CFAP Direct Farmer Aid Program

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Taylor in Business, Farming Resources, Funding, News, Policy, Politics, Subsidies // 0 Comments

CFAP Direct Farmer Aid Program Information from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the USDA

Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide direct relief to producers who have suffered losses during the 2020 marketing year due to COVID-19.

About the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP Direct Farmer Aid Program)

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance program on April 17, 2020. CFAP will use funding and authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and other USDA existing authorities. This $19 billion immediate relief program includes direct support to agricultural producers as well as the Food Box Distribution Program. This webpage has more information on the direct support for farmers and ranchers, which include:

CFAP will provide direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted.
CFAP 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.

Introductory Webinar

Toolkit (PDF)

USDA to Announce More Information About CFAP Direct Farmer Aid Soon

USDA evaluated commodity specific losses occurring during the January to April time frame for immediate assistance. In addition, near-term adjustment costs and supply disruptions over the next few months were also evaluated to the extent possible for sectors where prices have declined significantly for additional assistance.

CFAP is available to farmers regardless of size and market outlet, if they suffered an eligible loss. We know that the disruption to markets and demand is significant and these payments will only cover a portion of the impacts on farmers and ranchers.

USDA will announce more details related to CFAP soon.

How to Prepare

USDA will soon begin taking applications for CFAP. While the application process has not started, you can start gathering/understanding your farm’s recent sales and inventory.

Your local FSA staff will work with you to apply for the program, and through forms that will ask for the following information:

Contact
Personal, including your Tax Identification Number
Farming operating structure
Adjusted Gross Income to ensure eligibility
Direct deposit to enable payment processing

Please do not send any personal information to USDA without first initiating contact through a phone call. We take your privacy and security of your information very seriously. You can find contact information for your local USDA Service Center at the bottom of the page.

How to Apply for CFAP Direct Farmer Aid Once Signup Begins

USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only. Once the application period opens, please call your FSA county office to schedule an appointment.

In addition to the application form, our staff will work with you to complete portions of the CCC-902 – Farm Operating Plan – if necessary. Additionally, the following forms will be needed for CFAP; if you are an existing customer, this information is likely on file at your local Service Center.

CCC-901 (Also Available in Spanish) – Identifies members of a farm or ranch that is a legal entity. Member Information will be completed by legal entities and joint operations to collect the following:
- member names, addresses, and Tax Identification Numbers
- citizenship status
CCC-941 (Also Available in Spanish) – Reports your average adjusted gross income for programs where income restrictions apply.
CCC-942 – If applicable, this certification reports income from farming, ranching, and forestry, for those exceeding the adjusted gross income limitation.
AD-1026 (Also Available in Spanish) – Ensures compliance with highly erodible land conservation and wetland conservation.
AD-2047 – Provides basic customer contact information.
SF-3881 – Collects your banking information to allow USDA to make payments to you via direct deposit.

FSA has streamlined the signup process for CFAP Direct Farmer Aid to not require an acreage report at the time of application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately needed.

Our staff are working with our agricultural producers by phone and using email, fax, mail, and online tools like Box to accept applications.