WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Farmers and ranchers whose crops have been affected by events surrounding COVID-19 now have additional time to apply for aid, and more products are eligible.
According the the USDA, the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline or who had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs.
The USDA is extending the deadline to apply for to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to September 11th. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, more commodities have been added, allowing more farmers and ranchers to apply for assistance.
The new crops added are:
- 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.
- Non-Specialty Crops and Livestock - liquid eggs, frozen eggs and all sheep. Only lambs and yearlings (sheep less than two years old) were previously eligible.
- 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.
- Nursery Crops and Flowers - nursery crops and cut flowers.
Other changes include:
- Seven commodities – onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts and watermelons – are now eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding for sales losses. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for payments on marketing adjustments.
- Correcting payment rates for onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons.
To see a full list of eligible crops and products, click here.
To apply, go to farmers.gov/cfap. The USDA recommends those who have not worked with FSA previously call 877-508-8364 to begin the application process.
