Farmers and ranchers who are feeling the financial impacts of the current COVID-19 situation have been eagerly waiting for more details about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP is a $19 billion relief package to directly support farms that have experienced losses during the 2020 marketing year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The application period for CFAP will begin on Tuesday, May 26. USDA held a webinar last week to help producers prepare for the sign-up process.
The first step for farmers will be to contact the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) county office at their local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment. FSA staff will offer assistance in applying for the program. Individuals should be prepared to provide details, such as contact information; personal information including a tax identification number; details about the farm’s operating structure; adjusted gross income to ensure eligibility; and direct deposit information for payment processing.
Beyond the application, the FSA staff will help complete other paperwork as needed, including the following forms:
CCC-902 – The Farm Operating Plan.
CCC-901 – Identifies members of a farm or ranch that are a legal entity.
CCC-941 – Reports 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 – Ensures compliance with highly erodible land conservation and wetland conservation.
AD-2047 – Provides basic customer contact information.
SF-3881 – Collects banking information to allow USDA to make payments via direct deposit.
Although the application process is not yet open, producers can start gathering data about their farm’s recent sales and inventory. For individuals who have worked with FSA in the past, much of the needed information may already be on file.
Details about the program and updates as they become available can be found at the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program website.
