COVID-19 Response Resource Center: Timely Counsel for your Business

The USDA will begin accepting applications for direct payments to farmers Tuesday, May 26. These payments originate from the USDA Coronavirus Relief Fund Program (CFAP) that aims to reimburse farmers who have lost revenue from price declines or market disruptions.

Eligibility

The USDA expanded eligible producer groups to the categories listed below. Additionally, the USDA seeks comment from ineligible producers “who believe they’ve suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline between January and April 2020, and who face additional marketing costs due to COVID-19,” especially regarding nursery products, aquaculture products, and cut flowers.

Eligible categories 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)
• Dairy
• Specialty Crops
  • Fruits: apples, avocados, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, kiwifruit, lemons, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, tomatoes, watermelons
  • Vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, dry onions, green onions, peppers, potatoes, rhubarb, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, taro
  • Nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts
  • Other: beans, mushrooms

Applications

To “sign up” on Tuesday, producers will begin by navigating to this link and either (1) downloading and completing the posted PDF or (2) downloading and completing the posted Excel workbook payment calculator. The table below summarizes required reporting information. To finalize, producers will print, sign, and electronically submit their application to their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.

Additionally, producers who have not worked with FSA before will need to complete several forms, which are available at the USDA’s website.

If you have questions about the USDA’s Coronavirus Relief Fund Program, please contact Jamey Lowdermilk.

Brooks Pierce is dedicated to keeping our clients fully informed during the COVID-19 crisis. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 Response Resources page.