The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct payments to farmers who have been affected by the pandemic. It was mainly geared to commodity-based operations but last fall its new and improved version was unveiled and its new form was a better fit for small, diversified operations. That ended in December but alas, it is now back! On April 5, the USDA began receiving applications for CFAP 2 again, and will continue taking applications for at least 60 days from then.
Farmers who have already submitted a CFAP2 application last time around are now eligible to submit a modified application in order to take advantage of additional assistance that’s been added to CFAP2. Farm products including row crops, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, aquaculture, pullets and turfgrass (these last two were just added) are eligible for the CFAP 2 program.
Go to the USDA website on CFAP2 to learn more about the specific farm products that are covered, as well as how to apply. Farmers’ Legal Action Group also has an excellent guide in English and Spanish here. Farmers are encouraged to call the FSA office at your local USDA Service Center (find your local center here) a call center is available for producers who would like additional one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application process (877-508-8364).