In accordance with the White House memo, Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, USDA has suspended the processing and payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program - Additional Assistance and has halted implementation until further notice. FSA local offices will continue to accept applications during the evaluation period.
In the coming days, USDA and the Biden Administration intend to take additional steps to bring relief and support to all parts of food and agriculture during the coronavirus pandemic, including by ensuring producers have access to the capital, risk management tools, disaster assistance, and other federal resources.
USDA is providing additional assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for certain agricultural producers whose operations were directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
USDA announced the additional assistance on January 15, which includes expanding CFAP eligibility for some agricultural producers and commodities and updating payments to accurately compensate some producers who already applied for earlier assistance. This additional assistance builds on about $23.6 billion in payments made available through CFAP 1 and CFAP 2 earlier signups.
Apply for CFAP Additional Assistance
USDA’s Farm Service Agency will accept new or modified CFAP applications from eligible producers January 19 through February 26, 2021. Certain producers will receive updated payments automatically.
Are you eligible for additional assistance through CFAP? Application information related to your operation is detailed below by the specific commodity you grow or raise.
Producers who are modifying their applications should contact their local USDA Service Center for assistance. Producers who are filing new applications should contact their Service Center or call 877-508-8364 for one-on-one support. Additional information for those now eligible to apply for CFAP 2 or for eligible producers making CFAP 2 application modifications is available at farmers.gov/cfap2/apply.
Expanded Eligibility
Certain contract producers are now eligible to apply for CFAP 2, along with producers of pullets and turfgrass sod. Details are outlined by commodity, including more information on how to calculate payments and apply for the program.
Livestock by Contract Producers
Certain contract producers are now eligible for assistance through CFAP. Eligible producers must:
- have raised broilers, pullets, layers, chicken eggs, turkeys, hogs, or pigs under a contract in 2019 and 2020.
- demonstrate a drop in revenue for the period from January 1, 2020, through December 27, 2020, as compared to the period from January 1, 2019, through December 27, 2019.
- provide a copy of their contract.
Payments are based on eligible revenue for January 1, 2019, through December 27, 2019, minus eligible revenue for January 1, 2020, through December 27, 2020, multiplied by up to 80 percent.
Eligible contract producers can now apply for CFAP 2 between January 19 through February 26, 2021 by contacting their local USDA Service Center. One-on-one support with applications is also available by calling 877-508-8364.
Access all CFAP 2 application resources at farmers.gov/cfap2/apply.
Pullets
Pullet producers are now eligible for assistance through CFAP. This is one of several commodities that experienced COVID-19 market disruptions but had not been explicitly included in the initial CFAP 2 rule.
Payments for pullets will be equal to:
- The amount of the producer’s eligible sales in calendar year 2019, multiplied by
- The payment rate for that range.
| 2019 Sales Range | Percent Payment Factor for the Producer’s 2019 Sales of Eligible Commodities Falling in the Range |
|---|---|
| $0 to $49,999 | 10.6% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 9.9% |
| $100,000 to $499,999 | 9.7% |
| $500,000 to $999,999 | 9.0% |
| Sales over $1 million | 8.8% |
Payments for producers who began farming in 2020 and had no sales in 2019 will be based on the producer’s actual 2020 sales as of the producer’s application date.
Example: A producer’s 2019 sales of pullets totaled $75,000. The payment is calculated as ($49,999 times 10.6%) plus ($25,001 times 9.9%) equals a total payment of $7,775.
Eligible pullet producers can now apply for CFAP 2 between January 19 through February 26, 2021 by contacting their local USDA Service Center. One-on-one support with applications is also available by calling 877-508-8364.
Access all CFAP 2 application resources at farmers.gov/cfap2/apply.
Turfgrass Sod
Turfgrass sod producers are now eligible for assistance through CFAP. This is one of several commodities that experienced COVID-19 market disruptions but had not been explicitly included in the initial CFAP 2 rule.
Payments for turfgrass sod will be equal to:
- The amount of the producer’s eligible sales in calendar year 2019, plus crop insurance indemnities, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), and Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) payments received for the 2019 crop year, multiplied by
- The payment rate for that range.
| 2019 Sales Range | Percent Payment Factor for the Producer’s 2019 Sales of Eligible Commodities Falling in the Range |
|---|---|
| $0 to $49,999 | 10.6% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 9.9% |
| $100,000 to $499,999 | 9.7% |
| $500,000 to $999,999 | 9.0% |
| Sales over $1 million | 8.8% |
Payments for producers who began farming in 2020 and had no sales in 2019 will be based on the producer’s actual 2020 sales as of the producer’s application date.
Example: A producer’s 2019 sales of eligible commodities and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program payments totaled $75,000. The payment is calculated as ($49,999 times 10.6%) plus ($25,001 times 9.9%) equals a total payment of $7,775.
Eligible turfgrass sod producers can now apply for CFAP 2 between January 19 through February 26, 2021 by contacting their local USDA Service Center. One-on-one support with applications is also available by calling 877-508-8364.
Access all CFAP 2 application resources at farmers.gov/cfap2/apply.
Updated Payment Calculations
The CFAP additional assistance includes changes to more accurately compensate producers who already applied for the program, and producers of certain commodities may be eligible for higher payments. Details are outlined by commodity, including new payment calculations and actions producers should take to update applications. No action is required for certain commodities.
Aquaculture
FSA updated the CFAP 2 payment calculation for aquaculture commodities to account for crop insurance indemnities and payments through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). This more accurately represents what a producer would have marketed if not for a cause of loss.
CFAP payments to aquaculture producers are now calculated using the producer’s eligible sales in calendar year 2019, and crop insurance indemnities and NAP payments for crop year 2019, multiplied by the applicable payment rate below. This may mean a higher payment for producers.
| 2019 Sales Range | Percent Payment Factor for the Producer’s 2019 Sales of Eligible Commodities Falling in the Range |
|---|---|
| $0 to $49,999 | 10.6% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 9.9% |
| $100,000 to $499,999 | 9.7% |
| $500,000 to $999,999 | 9.0% |
| Sales over $1 million | 8.8% |
Aquaculture producers who applied during the CFAP 2 sign-up period that closed December 11, and received insurance indemnities or NAP payments for the 2019 crop year, should contact their local USDA Service Center to modify their CFAP 2 applications. Producers can make modifications between January 19 and February 26, 2021. Visit farmers.gov/cfap2/apply to learn more about modifying your existing CFAP 2 application.
Swine
Swine producers with approved CFAP 1 applications are now receiving a “top-up” payment. Payment rates for swine are increasing from 25 percent to 50 percent of the estimated total economic loss.
This top-up payment aims to rectify large differences between the first quarter sales loss rates and the inventory payment rates for CFAP 1 payments, which were based on expected sales in the second and third quarters.
Eligible swine producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will soon automatically a receive “top-up” payment of $17 per head to cover up to an additional 25 percent.
Payments will be based on hog and pig inventory owned between April 16, 2020, to May 14, 2020.
No action is required for producers to receive top-up payments. Producers who did not have an approved CFAP 1 application are not eligible.
Nursery Crops and Floriculture
FSA updated the CFAP 2 payment calculation for nursey crops and floriculture to account for crop insurance indemnities and payments through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). This more accurately represents what a producer would have marketed if not for a cause of loss.
Payments for nursery crop and floriculture producers are now calculated using the producer’s eligible sales in calendar year 2019, and crop insurance indemnities, NAP, and WHIP+ payments for crop year 2019, multiplied by the applicable payment rate below. This may mean a higher payment for producers.
| 2019 Sales Range | Percent Payment Factor for the Producer’s 2019 Sales of Eligible Commodities Falling in the Range |
|---|---|
| $0 to $49,999 | 10.6% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 9.9% |
| $100,000 to $499,999 | 9.7% |
| $500,000 to $999,999 | 9.0% |
| Sales over $1 million | 8.8% |
Nursery crop and floriculture producers who applied during the CFAP 2 sign-up period that closed December 11, 2020, and received insurance indemnities, NAP payments, or WHIP+ payments for the 2019 crop year, should contact their local USDA Service Center to modify their CFAP 2 applications. Producers can make modifications between January 19 and February 26, 2021. Visit farmers.gov/cfap2/apply to learn more about modifying your existing CFAP 2 application.
Row Crops
FSA updated the payment calculation for certain row crops for CFAP 2, specifically for producers who had crop insurance but did not have an available 2020 Actual Production History (APH) approved yield. FSA is now using 100 percent of the 2019 Agriculture Risk Coverage-County Option benchmark yield for CFAP 2 applications for these producers, rather than the original 85 percent. This calculation changes only for producers with crop insurance coverage who grow barley, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, upland cotton, and wheat.
This change provides improved support for producers with crop insurance when an APH approved yield was not available.
Impacted producers who applied during the sign-up period that closed December 11, 2020, can modify an existing CFAP 2 application between January 19 and February 26 , 2021. Visit farmers.gov/cfap2/apply to learn more about modifying your existing CFAP 2 application.
Specialty Crops
FSA updated the CFAP 2 payment calculation for specialty crops to account for crop insurance indemnities and payments through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). This more accurately represents what a producer would have marketed if not for a cause of loss.
Payments for specialty crop producers are now calculated using the producer’s eligible sales in calendar year 2019, and crop insurance indemnities, NAP, and WHIP+ payments for crop year 2019, multiplied by the applicable payment rate below. This may mean a higher payment for producers.
| 2019 Sales Range | Percent Payment Factor for the Producer’s 2019 Sales of Eligible Commodities Falling in the Range |
|---|---|
| $0 to $49,999 | 10.6% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 9.9% |
| $100,000 to $499,999 | 9.7% |
| $500,000 to $999,999 | 9.0% |
| Sales over $1 million | 8.8% |
Specialty crop producers who applied during the CFAP 2 sign-up period that closed December 11, 2020, and received insurance indemnities, NAP payments, or WHIP+ payments for the 2019 crop year, should contact their local USDA Service Center to modify their CFAP 2 applications. Producers can make modifications between January 19 and February 26, 2021. Visit farmers.gov/cfap2/apply to learn more about modifying your existing CFAP 2 application.
Specialty Livestock
FSA updated the CFAP 2 payment calculation for specialty livestock to account for crop insurance indemnities. This more accurately represents what a producer would have marketed if not for a cause of loss.
Payments for specialty livestock producers are now calculated using the producer’s eligible sales in calendar year 2019 plus crop insurance indemnities received for the eligible specialty livestock for crop year 2019, multiplied by the applicable payment rate below. This may mean a higher payment for producers.
| 2019 Sales Range | Percent Payment Factor for the Producer’s 2019 Sales of Eligible Commodities Falling in the Range |
|---|---|
| $0 to $49,999 | 10.6% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 9.9% |
| $100,000 to $499,999 | 9.7% |
| $500,000 to $999,999 | 9.0% |
| Sales over $1 million | 8.8% |
Specialty livestock producers who applied during the CFAP 2 sign-up period that closed December 11, 2020, and received insurance indemnities during the 2019 crop year, should contact their local USDA Service Center to modify their CFAP 2 applications. Producers can make modifications between January 19 and February 26, 2021. Visit farmers.gov/cfap2/apply to learn more about modifying your existing CFAP 2 application.
Tobacco
FSA updated the CFAP 2 payment calculation for tobacco to account for crop insurance indemnities and payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). This more accurately represents what a producer would have marketed if not for a cause of loss.
Payments for tobacco producers are now calculated using the producer’s eligible sales during calendar year 2019 plus crop insurance indemnities and WHIP+ payments received for crop year 2019, multiplied by the applicable payment rate. This may mean a higher payment for producers.
| 2019 Sales Range | Percent Payment Factor for the Producer’s 2019 Sales of Eligible Commodities Falling in the Range |
|---|---|
| $0 to $49,999 | 10.6% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 9.9% |
| $100,000 to $499,999 | 9.7% |
| $500,000 to $999,999 | 9.0% |
| Sales over $1 million | 8.8% |
Tobacco producers who applied during the CFAP 2 sign-up period that closed December 11, 2020, and received insurance indemnities or WHIP+ payments for the 2019 crop year, should contact their local USDA Service Center to modify their CFAP 2 applications. Producers can make modifications between January 19 and February 26, 2021. Visit farmers.gov/cfap2/apply to learn more about modifying your existing CFAP 2 application.
About Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Additional Assistance
USDA announced this additional assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program on January 15, 2021. Key program information includes:
Eligible Producers
Producers must be in the business of farming at the time of submitting their application to be eligible for CFAP additional assistance.
Producers can apply for assistance for only commercially produced commodities.
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-related activities, the AGI limit of $900,000 does not apply and the person or legal entity is eligible to receive CFAP payments up to the applicable payment limitation.
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 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.
- if a legal entity has more than 10 percent ownership held by persons who are not a US Citizen or Resident Alien, then that entity is eligible for payment only 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).
Payment Limitations
The total CFAP payment that a person or legal entity may receive, directly or indirectly through attribution of payments, is $250,000. CFAP 1 and 2 are separate programs, and payment limits are unique for each program. This limitation applies to the total amount of CFAP 1 or CFAP 2 payments made with respect to all eligible commodities.
The total amount of CFAP 1 or CFAP 2 payments made to a legal entity – such as to a corporation, limited liability corporation, limited partnership, trust, or estate – is $250,000 except if:
- two different members of the legal entity each provide at least 400 hours of active personal labor, active personal management, or combination thereof with respect to the production of 2020 commodities, then an entity may receive up to $500,000.
- three different members of the legal entity each provide at least 400 hours of active personal labor, active personal management, or combination thereof with respect to the production of 2020 commodities, then an entity may receive up to $750,000.
Although the payment limitation is increased for the corporation, LLC, LP, trust, or estate, each members’ payment limitation (received directly or indirectly) remains subject to the $250,000 individual person payment limit.
These payment limit provisions are different from and separate from the payment limitations established by the 2018 Farm Bill.
Payment Dashboards
The CFAP 2 dashboard tracks all CFAP 2 payments and applications by state, including those from eligible producers of CFAP additional assistance. The CFAP 1 dashboard tracks all CFAP 1 payments and applications by state, including the “top-up” payments made to swine producers through CFAP additional assistance. Weekly updates will be posted every Monday.
CFAP Additional Assistance Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit farmers.gov/cfap/faq for answers to common questions on CFAP additional assistance. These FAQs were last updated on January 22, 2021.
Tools for Stakeholders
Stakeholder Toolkits
USDA encourages producers and agricultural groups to share information with those in their network. Our general CFAP Additional Assistance Stakeholder Toolkit includes key talking points, a newsletter article, and suggested social media posts intended to raise awareness around CFAP Additional Assistance. We also offer a CFAP Additional Assistance Stakeholder Toolkit for Turfgrass Sod. These toolkits were last updated on January 22, 2021.
CFAP Additional Assistance Posters
We offer CFAP Additional Assistance posters for swine and poultry contract producers, pullet producers, and turfgrass sod producers. Please note, these posters are for use once the signup period for CFAP additional assistance opens on January 19, 2021. These posters were last updated on January 15, 2021.
Rules and Cost-Benefit Analyses
The below resources provide more information on CFAP.
-
CFAP Additional Assistance Rule (Amendments to CFAP 1 and CFAP 2 rules)
-
CFAP 2 Rule and Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Note: Additional documents can be found at farmers.gov/cfap2.
- CFAP 1 Rule and Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Note: Additional documents can be found at farmers.gov/cfap1.
CFAP 1 and 2
USDA announced the first round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, CFAP 1, on April 17, 2020. CFAP 1 provided direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19. Learn more about CFAP 1 by visiting farmers.gov/cfap1.
USDA announced an expansion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program on September 17. Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2, CFAP 2, provided producers with financial assistance to absorb some of the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about CFAP 2 by visiting farmers.gov/cfap2.
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.