USDA Approving Over Half a Million in Payments

WASHINGTON, DC – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already approved more than $545 million in payments to producers who have applied for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). FSA began taking applications on May 26, and the agency has received over 86,000 applications for CFAP. In the first six days of the application period, FSA has already made payments to more than 35,000 producers. Out of the gate, the top five states for CFAP payments are Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and South Dakota. FSA will accept applications through August 28, 2020, and is making available $16 billion in financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities. Producers can download the CFAP application and can find a payment calculator to help identify sales and inventory records needed to apply and calculate potential payments. Producers self-certify their records when applying and that documentation is not submitted with the application. However, producers may be asked for their documentation to support the certification of eligible commodities, so producers should retain the information used to complete their application. Those who use the online calculator tool will be able to print a pre-filled CFAP application, sign it, and submit it to the local FSA office either electronically or via hand delivery through an office dropbox. For more information visit: farmers.gov/cfap
(SOURCE: USDA)