BISMARCK – The United States Department of Agriculture has released details for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP will assist agricultural producers who have suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline from mid-January 2020 to mid-April 2020 or who had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and face additional significant market costs.
Producers may apply for assistance beginning May 26, 2020 through their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.
“Producers can now go to the website to view payment rates for crops and livestock,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “While the application process has not yet started, farmers and ranchers should start gathering and understanding their recent sales and inventory.”
Eligible commodities include:
- Non-specialty crops: malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat and hard red spring wheat
- Wool
- Livestock: cattle, hogs and sheep (lambs and yearlings only)
- Specialty crops: some fruits, vegetables, nuts and other (see website for full list)
Commodities that did not suffer a five percent-or-greater price decline from mid-January 2020 to mid-April 2020 are not eligible. Producers of commodities not included on the original list who believe they’ve suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline during the specified dates, and who face additional marketing costs due to COVID-19 may submit comments to provide information about additional commodities.
Participation in Small Business Administration programs does not limit producer eligibility for CFAP, other FSA farm loans or any other USDA programs. More information may be found at https://www.farmers.gov/cfap.