Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.
The application period for CFAP ended on September 11 for most producers. FSA accepted applications until October 9, 2020, for certain producers in Louisiana, Oregon, and Texas impacted by natural disasters.
USDA is implementing Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Visit farmers.gov/cfap to learn more.
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Deadline Update
USDA’s Farm Service Agency updated the deadline for certain producers impacted by natural disasters to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The deadline for impacted producers in Louisiana and the following Oregon and Texas counties was October 9, 2020.
Louisiana: Eligible producers in Louisiana that were impacted by Hurricane Laura had through October 9 to apply for CFAP.
Oregon: Eligible producers in Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath Falls, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill counties in Oregon had through October 9 to apply for CFAP. FSA only authorized this updated deadline for areas impacted by wildfire.
Texas: Eligible producers in Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Orange, Sabine, and Tyler counties in Texas had through October 9 to apply for CFAP. FSA only authorized this updated deadline for areas impacted by Hurricane Laura.
Apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
The deadline for most producers to apply for CFAP was September 11. Certain producers in Louisiana, Oregon, and Texas had through October 9 to apply.
FSA offered multiple ways for producers to apply for CFAP to meet their business needs.
Manually Complete Applications
Producers who are interested in filling out the CFAP application manually can download the application form, AD-3114, to fill out and return to the FSA office at their local USDA Service Center. If you need more space, you should use the AD-3114A continuation form. The AD-3114 application form and AD-3114A continuation form are also available in Spanish.
Instructions for form AD-3114 and AD-3114 continuation are available for producers to reference when filling out both forms. Instructions for form AD-3114 and AD-3114 continuation are also available in Spanish.
Fill Application with Payment Calculator
Our CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator is an Excel workbook that allows you to input information specific to your operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which you can then print, sign, and submit to the FSA office at your local USDA Service Center. USDA updated this Payment Calculator on August 17 to include nearly 60 recently added commodities that are now eligible for CFAP.
Microsoft Excel is required to use this workbook. Please click the workbook link and select the option to save to your computer. Internet Explorer users, you may experience an error if you try to open the workbook online instead of saving. Once saved, you will need to open the file on your computer and enable editing and/or enable macros at the top of the Excel sheet to input information specific to your operation. A video preview with more information is available here.
As the deadline for sign up for the first round of CFAP has passed, online applications for CFAP 1 are no longer available. Please contact your local service center for assistance on existing or late applications.
Producers self-certify when applying for CFAP, and documentation is not submitted with the application. You may be asked for additional documentation to support your certification of eligible commodities, so you should retain the documentation used to complete your application. Information on additional documents is provided at farmers.gov/cfap1/apply.
Assistance with Applying
While most USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, FSA is working with producers by phone and using email and online tools to process CFAP applications. Please call the FSA office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment if you’d like assistance or have questions. You can find contact information for your local USDA Service Center at the bottom of the page, and check the status of your local USDA Service Center at farmers.gov/coronavirus/service-center-status.
A CFAP Call Center is available for producers who would like additional one-on-one support with the CFAP application process. Please call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. The CFAP Call Center can provide service to non-English speaking customers. Customers will select 1 for English and 2 to speak with a Spanish speaking employee. For other languages, customers select 1 and indicate their language to the Call Center staff.
Commodity Eligibility for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides vital financial 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.
Eligible commodities for CFAP include:
Non-Specialty Crops
CFAP payments are eligible to producers of non-specialty crops who have suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline over a specified time as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and who face increased marketing costs for inventories.
Visit farmers.gov/cfap1/non-specialty for more information on CFAP eligibility and payment details related to non-specialty crops.
Wool
CFAP payments are eligible to wool producers who have suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline over a specified time as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and who face increased marketing costs for inventories.
Visit farmers.gov/cfap1/wool for more information on CFAP eligibility and payment details related to wool.
Livestock
CFAP assistance is available to livestock producers who have an ownership interest in eligible livestock that have suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and face additional significant costs in marketing their inventories due to unexpected surplus and disrupted markets.
USDA announced updates to livestock eligibility on August 11. Visit farmers.gov/cfap1/livestock for more information on CFAP eligibility and payment details related to livestock.
Dairy
CFAP payments are eligible to all dairy operations with milk production in January, February, and/or March 2020. Any dumped milk production during the months of January, February, and March 2020 is eligible for assistance.
Visit farmers.gov/cfap1/dairy for more information on CFAP eligibility and payment details related to dairy production.
Specialty Crops
Producers of specialty crops are eligible for CFAP payments in the following three categories:
- Had crops that suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,
- Had produce shipped but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channel, and
- Had shipments that did not leave the farm or mature crops that remained unharvested.
USDA announced on July 9 that it would make more than 40 additional specialty crops eligible for CFAP. Additional eligible specialty crops were announced on August 11. Visit farmers.gov/cfap1/specialty for more information on CFAP eligibility and payment details related to specialty crops.
Nursery Crops and Cut Flowers
USDA announced on August 11 that nursery crops and cut flowers are eligible for CFAP assistance. Nursery crops means decorative or non-decorative plants grown in a container or controlled environment for commercial sale. Cut flowers includes cut flowers and cut greenery from annual and perennial flowering plants grown in a container or controlled environment for commercial sale.
Visit farmers.gov/cfap1/nursery for more information on CFAP eligibility and payment details related to nursery crops and cut flowers.
Aquaculture
USDA announced on August 11 that catfish, largemouth bass and carp sold live as foodfish, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical fish, recreational sportfish, and crawfish are eligible for CFAP assistance.
Visit farmers.gov/cfap1/aquaculture for more information on CFAP eligibility and payment details related to aquaculture commodities.
Eggs
USDA announced on August 11 that both liquid eggs and frozen eggs are eligible for CFAP assistance.
Visit farmers.gov/cfap1/eggs for more information on CFAP eligibility and payment details related to eggs.
Commodities Added to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
In response to comments and data received by the public, USDA announced on July 9 that it would make more than 40 additional specialty crop commodities eligible for the program. Nearly 60 additional commodities were announced on August 11, including additions to specialty crops and livestock along with the inclusion of nursery crops and cut flowers, aquaculture, and certain types of eggs.
In addition to these newly eligible commodities, USDA also expanded funding categories for several commodities and adjusted payment rates for others. A full list of these commodities, and their associated payment rates, can be found on our specialty crops, livestock, nursery and cut flowers, aquaculture, and eggs pages, above. These updates were made in two rounds, based on comments and data received from the public. Learn more in the NOFA and rule correction documents, found below under Additional CFAP Information.
USDA began accepting applications for additional commodities announced on July 9 on July 13, 2020. Applications for commodities announced on August 11 will be accepted beginning the week of August 17. If a producer submitted a CFAP application for a previously ineligible commodity, and the application was disapproved, the producer must submit a new CFAP application. If the producer submitted an application and was paid for CFAP but also has crops that are now considered eligible or are now eligible for CARES Act funding for sales losses, the producer should NOT submit a new application, but rather, contact the local FSA office to amend the application.
For producers who have already applied for CFAP and whose commodities have experienced payment rate increases, FSA will automatically calculate the increase and issue a payment. For potato and mint payments, producers will need to contact FSA to amend the application to identify the specific type of potatoes or mint. Producers who have already applied will not be impacted by a payment rate decrease.
About the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program on April 17, 2020. Key program information includes:
Who is Eligible?
Eligible producers of specified agricultural commodities outlined above who have suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and who face substantial marketing costs for inventories, are eligible for CFAP payments.
To be eligible for payments, a person or legal entity must have an average adjusted gross income of less than $900,000 for tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018. However, if 75 percent of their adjusted gross income comes from farming, ranching, or forestry, the AGI limit of $900,000 does not apply.
Persons and legal entities also must:
- comply with the provisions of the “Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation” regulations, often called the conservation compliance provisions; and
- not have a controlled substance violation.
Additionally:
- if a person who is not a US Citizen or Resident Alien (possessing an I-551 “Green Card”), then that person must provide a significant contribution of capital, land, and active personal labor to be eligible for CFAP payments.
- if a legal entity with more than 10 percent ownership held by persons who are not a US Citizen or Resident Alien, then that entity is eligible for payment if each foreign person in the entity makes a significant contribution of labor to the farming operation. If the foreign person(s) does not make a significant contribution of active personal labor to the farming operation, the legal entity’s payment is reduced by the pro-rata ownership interest held by the foreign person(s).
What are the Payment Limitations?
CFAP payments are subject to a per person and legal entity payment limitation of $250,000. This limitation applies to the total amount of CFAP payments made with respect to all eligible commodities.
Unlike other FSA programs, special payment limitation rules will be applied to participants that are corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships (corporate entities). These corporate entities may receive up to $750,000 based upon the number of shareholders – not to exceed three shareholders – who contribute at least 400 hours of active person management or personal active labor.
For a corporate entity:
- With one such shareholder the payment limit for the entity is $250,000;
- With two such shareholders, the payment limit for the entity is $500,000 if at least two members contribute substantial labor or management with respect to the operation of the corporate entity; and
- With three such shareholders, the limit is $750,000 if at least three members contribute substantial labor or management with respect to the operation of the corporate entity.
Each individual shareholder will receive payment based on the percentage of interest in the entity. However, each individual shareholder remains subject to the $250,000 payment limit, which means that the entity may not realize the full amount of the increased entity limitation. There may be additional reductions if the shareholder has earnings through other farming operations.
What is the Payment Structure?
To ensure availability of funding, producers with approved applications initially received 80 percent of their payments. Beginning the week of August 17, FSA will automatically issue the remaining 20 percent of the calculated payment to eligible producers. Going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100 percent of their total payment, not to exceed the payment limit, when their applications are approved.
What Commodities are Ineligible? Why?
Commodities that did not suffer a five percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 between the specified timeframes, or commodities for which there was not enough data to substantiate a claim, are not eligible for CFAP. Specifically, this includes, goats, bison, buffalo, beefalo, turkeys, mink, mohair, shell eggs, dried eggs, layers, soft red winter wheat, hard red winter wheat, white wheat, rice, flax, rye, green peanuts, feed barley, Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton, alfalfa, hemp, and tobacco.
USDA received comments on a range of commodities without sufficient data for to determine if these crops suffered eligible losses due to the effects of COVID-19. These commodities are thereby ineligible for CFAP and are reported in the latest NOFA, effective August 14.
Additionally, USDA received comments requesting CFAP assistance for oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and marine algae. The Secretary of Commerce is providing assistance for molluscan shellfish and marine algae with funding provided by section 12005 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, Pub. L. 116-136). To avoid providing duplicate payments for the same losses, USDA has determined that CFAP will not cover those commodities. Learn more about aquaculture eligibility for CFAP at farmers.gov/cfap1/aquaculture.
USDA considered additional commodities to be eligible for CFAP by collecting information on potentially eligible commodities. In response to comments and data received by the public, USDA announced on July 9 that it would make more than 40 additional commodities eligible for the program and announced nearly 60 additional eligible commodities on August 11. In addition to these newly eligible commodities, USDA also expanded funding categories for several additional commodities and adjusted payment rates for others. Updated information related to these announcements is available on our specialty crops, livestock, nursery and cut flowers, aquaculture, and eggs pages, above.
What are CFAP Funding and Authorities?
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program uses funding and authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and other USDA existing authorities. This $19 billion immediate relief program includes direct support to agricultural producers as well as the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.
Eligible farmers and ranchers will receive one CFAP payment, drawn from two possible funding sources. The first source of funding is $9.5 billion in appropriated funding provided in the CARES Act and compensates farmers for losses due to price declines that occurred between mid-January 2020, and mid-April 2020 and for specialty crops for product that was shipped and spoiled or unpaid product. The second funding source uses the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to compensate producers for $6.5 billion in losses due to on-going market disruptions.
CFAP Payment Dashboard
This dashboard tracks CFAP payments and applications by state, and is current as of October 19, 2020. Weekly updates will be posted every Monday.
CFAP Resources
USDA offers a range of webinars, digital tools, fact sheets, and user guides for farmers and ranchers interested in learning more about CFAP.
Videos and Webinars
Educational Webinar Recordings
FSA hosted commodity-specific CFAP webinars that cover program basics and what producers should know to enroll in the program. Recordings of each webinar are available for you to watch at any time.
NOTE: The original CFAP application deadline – August 28, 2020 – is reflected in some of the below resources. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on August 11 that the deadline to apply for CFAP has been extended to September 11. Nearly 60 additional eligible commodities were also announced on August 11.
CFAP Additional Eligible Commodities Announced 8/11/2020: On August 11, USDA announced nearly 60 additional commodities that are now eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Additionally, USDA is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11, 2020, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. FSA specialists discuss these updates in this webinar.
CFAP Newly Eligible Specialty Crops and Program Adjustments Announced 7/09/2020: USDA announced on July 9 that it would make more than 40 additional commodities eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. USDA also expanded funding categories for several additional commodities and adjusted payment rates for others. FSA specialists discuss these updates in this webinar.
CFAP for Specialty Crop Producers: We talk with one of the CFAP National Program Specialists to discuss what specialty crop producers should know to sign up for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
CFAP for Dairy and Non-Specialty Crop Producers: We talk with two of the CFAP National Program Specialists to discuss what dairy and non-specialty crop producers should know to sign up for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
CFAP for Livestock and Non-Specialty Crop Producers: We talk with two of the CFAP National Program Specialists to discuss what livestock and non-specialty crop producers should know to sign up for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
CFAP and USDA Programs During Coronavirus: We talk with specialists across USDA about what producers should know to sign up for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and other USDA program flexibilities due to COVID-19.
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Introductory Webinar: This webinar hosted by USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Agricultural Marketing Service provides initial information on how producers can prepare to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
Videos
CFAP Payment Calculator Demo: This video provides information about using the CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator to input information specific to your operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form.
CFAP Frequently Asked Questions
Visit farmers.gov/cfap1/faq for answers to recent questions we have received from producers. These FAQs were last updated on October 13, 2020.
CFAP Fact Sheets
CFAP Fact Sheets in English
A general CFAP fact sheet is available in English, as well as commodity-specific fact sheets for non-specialty crops, wool, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, aquaculture, eggs, and nursery crops and cut flowers.
CFAP Fact Sheets in Spanish
A general CFAP fact sheet is available in Spanish, as well as commodity-specific fact sheets for non-specialty crops, wool, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, eggs, and nursery crops and cut flowers.
CFAP Fact Sheets in Puerto Rican Spanish
A general CFAP fact sheet is available in Puerto Rican Spanish, as well as commodity-specific fact sheets for non-specialty crops, wool, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, eggs, and nursery crops and cut flowers.
CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator
The CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator is an Excel workbook that allows you to input information specific to your operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form. USDA updated this Payment Calculator on August 17 to include nearly 60 recently added commodities that are now eligible for CFAP.
Microsoft Excel is required to use this workbook. Please click the workbook link and select the option to save to your computer. Internet Explorer users, you may experience an error if you try to open the workbook online instead of saving. Once saved, you will need to open the file on your computer and enable editing and/or enable macros at the top of the Excel sheet to input information specific to your operation. A video preview with more information is available here.
Tools for Stakeholders
Stakeholder Toolkit
USDA encourages producers and agricultural groups to share information with those in their network. Our CFAP Stakeholder Toolkit includes key messages, a newsletter article, social media posts, and CFAP posters. This toolkit was last updated on August 20, 2020.
CFAP Posters
We offer a package of posters that can also be accessed individually for livestock, dairy, fruit and vegetable, crop, aquaculture, egg, nursery crop, and farm impacts due to COVID-19. These posters were last updated on August 20, 2020.
Our CFAP posters are also available in Spanish. This package of posters was last updated on August 28, 2020.
Stakeholder Webinar
Our stakeholder webinar, How Organizations Can Spread the Word, covers CFAP program basics, the NOFA process, and resources available to assist producers with sign up and to promote the program widely.
Additional CFAP Information
The below resources provide more information on CFAP.
Final Rule and Correcting Amendments
CFAP Final Rule – Posted May 21, 2020
CFAP Correcting Amendment – Posted June 12, 2020
CFAP Correcting Amendment – Posted July 10, 2020
CFAP Correcting Amendment – Posted August 14, 2020
CFAP Correcting Amendment – Posted September 18, 2020
Notice of Funding Availability and Corrections
CFAP Notice of Funding Availability – Posted May 22, 2020
NOFA Correction – Posted June 12, 2020
NOFA: Additional Eligible Commodities – Posted July 10, 2020
NOFA: Additional Eligible Commodities – Posted August 14, 2020
Cost-Benefit Analysis
CFAP Cost-Benefit Analysis – Posted May 14, 2020
Broader USDA Efforts
In addition to CFAP, USDA has other programs and services available to farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
In the News
August 28, 2020: Deadline Approaching for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
August 11, 2020: USDA Announces More Eligible Commodities for CFAP
July 9, 2020: Additional Commodities Eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
June 25, 2020: USDA Adds Digital Options for Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
June 4, 2020: USDA Issues First Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Payments
May 19, 2020: USDA Announces Details of Direct Assistance to Farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
April 17, 2020: USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Find Your Local Service Center
We are committed to delivering USDA services to America’s farmers and ranchers while taking safety measures in response to COVID-19. While employees continue to staff our Service Centers, some are only available for phone appointments at this time. You can learn the status of your service center through this tool. Learn more at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.
Visit the Risk Management Agency website to find a regional or compliance office or to find an insurance agent near you.