USDA extends CFAP application deadline and expands eligible crop list

In the last week of July, I shared a blog post, Will there be a Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2.0? Well, CFAP 2.0 has arrived.

On August 11, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced an extension of the application deadline for CFAP assistance from August 28 to September 11, 2020, and that producers with previously approved applications will also receive their final payment. Additionally, the USDA extended the list of eligible crops based on feedback from farmers and ranchers.

In the USDA’s news release, Secretary Perdue said, “CFAP is just one of the many ways that the USDA is helping producers weather the impacts of the pandemic. From deferring payments on loans to adding flexibilities to crop insurance and reporting deadlines, USDA has been leveraging many tools to help producers.”

Specialty crops added to eligibility list

Besides specialty commodities, the USDA added commodities to funds for sales losses, including: walnuts, pistachios, green onions, watermelons, peppermint and spearmint. In addition, payment rates were corrected for these.

Other commodities now eligible for CFAP include:

• Aquaculture: Catfish, crawfish, largemouth bass and carp sold live as foodfish, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical fish and recreational sportfish.
• Non-specialty crops and livestock: Frozen eggs, liquid eggs and all sheep (previously, only lambs and sheep under two years old were eligible).
• Nursery crops and flowers: Nursery crops and cut flowers.
• Specialty crops: Aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (French parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga and yuca/cassava.

How to apply for CFAP

For producers who have not previously worked with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the USDA recommends contacting them by phone at 877-508-8364 to begin the application process. An FSA staff member can help producers start their application during the phone call. Others can start the process online at farmers.gov/cfap.

The USDA indicated that all service centers are now open for business, and some locations are now open to the public by appointment only.    

Need help?

If you need help assessing your situation and determining the best path forward, the talented Agriculture team at Wipfli is happy to help. Contact us today.

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