According to an NOA press release, the USDA has opened a second round of coronavirus assistance (CFAP-2) to U.S. growers, making $14 billion available to eligible growers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. You can apply beginning today until Dec. 11.
Onion growers who grew onions during the calendar year of 2020 qualify for a direct payment. The payment will depend on your farm’s 2019 Gross Farm Sales Values and is based on that final figure using a scaled payment system. Payments will equate to approximately 9-10 percent of the 2019 sales figure.
The purpose of this program is to not only cover sales losses or destroyed crops, but to also recognize the many financial burdens growers coped with over the course of the pandemic. This system acknowledges the losses associated with costs such as: additional safety measures, changes in marketing channels, lost distribution channels, providing PPE, worker testing and safety education, internal policy changes, and so forth.
Applications will be accepted through Dec. 11, 2020. The program will continue to be administered by USDA FSA offices, and you are encouraged to sign-up either online or with your local office. This program (CFAP #2) is considered DIFFERENT from the first CFAP program so:
- If you received a payment from the first CFAP program, it doesn’t matter. You are still eligible for this new CFAP program.
- Because it is a new program, you must complete a new application. Does not matter if you filled an application for the first program – this program has a different application process.
- Producers will need to reference their sales, inventory, and other records. However, since CFAP 2 is a self-certification program, this documentation will not need to be submitted with the application. Because applications are subject to County Committee review and spot check, some producers will be required to provide documentation. Producers should retain the records and documentation they use to complete the application.
- Many of the same restrictions (ex: AGI, $250k per producer, 3 producers per company max and other limitations) remain in place.
Customers seeking one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. This is a recommended first step before a producer engages with the team at the FSA county office.
For more information or to apply, please visit www.farmers.gov/cfap. To see the official USDA Press Release, visit here.
FSA will have an informational webinar at 2 p.m. (Central Time) Thursday, Sept 24. Register for that here.
