• By Kim Gressley
• Posted Thursday, May 21, 2020

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for Farmers

Many farmers have questions about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Right now, there may be more questions than answers as the details are just beginning to emerge. The program is administered by the Farm Service Agency and NOT N.C. Cooperative Extension. We know that FSA plans to receive applications May 26 through August 28 via an online application at farmers.gov/CFAP. Eligible crops, livestock, and products include:

• Crops: malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat, and hard red spring wheat.
• Livestock Products/Animals: wool, cattle, hogs, lambs and yearling sheep, milk (by weight). Click here for a fact sheet about livestock.
• Speciality Crops that:
  • Had crops that realized a five-percent-or-greater reduction in sales price between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Had produce shipped but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channel.
  • Had shipments that did not leave the farm or mature crops that remained unharvested.

Realize that this list may have been updated since the posting of this story.

For up to date information, please visit farmers.gov/CFAP. This website will contain the application for submission. Please do NOT visit the Farm Service Agency office in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. If you need assistance with the application, you may call 336-934-8958.

View the USDA News Release here.

View Frequently Asked Questions here.

View Talking Points here.