From usda.gov/media/press-releases on April 17, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
“The program will provide $16 billion in direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted…” including $9.5 billion in aid to cattle, dairy and hog farmers, $3.9B to row/commodity crops, $2.1B for specialty crops growers, and $500 mil for “other” crops ($500 million).
The remaining $3B will be used to increase purchases of fresh produce, dairy, and meat to be distributed through “food banks, community and faith based organizations, and other non-profits serving Americans in need.”
More details about the CFAP can be found in the press release, however, as of yesterday morning, local USDA Service Centers had not yet received directions on how/where/when farmers should apply for direct assistance. They will inform local farmers as soon as the information becomes available and we will also pass on that information as soon as we have it.
