WASHINGTON, DC – All sheep are now classified for federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments. Previously, only lambs and yearlings were eligible for the program payouts.
The program provides $16 billion in direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19.
The program also provides for the purchase of $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for program payments to September 11th.
To ensure availability of funding, producers with approved applications initially received 80 percent of their payments. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will automatically issue the remaining 20 percent of the calculated payment to eligible producers. Going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100 percent of their total payment, not to exceed the payment limit, when their applications are approved.
Producers, especially those who have not worked with FSA previously, are recommended to call 877-508-8364 to begin the application process. An FSA staff member can help producers start their application during the phone call.
See the expanded list of commodities eligible for CFAP, here.
