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[Archived] Non-Specialty Crops and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Are you a non-specialty crop producer 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.

[This page has been archived.] 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.

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP, 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 market costs. 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. Learn more at farmers.gov/cfap1.

 

Eligible Non-Specialty Commodities

CFAP payments are available for eligible producers of non-specialty crops who have suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline from mid-January to mid-April 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and who face increased marketing costs for inventories.  

Non-specialty crops eligible for CFAP payments include barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat, and hard red spring wheat. 

Crops intended for grazing are not eligible.

 

Market Contracts and Non-Specialty Crops

The tables below outline CFAP eligibility for certain market contracts and only applies to non-specialty crops.

Eligible CFAP Marketing Contracts for Non-Specialty Crops


Column one contains the type of eligible CFAP marketing contracts for non-specialty crops in existence on Jan. 15, 2020, column two contains an explanation of the contract.
Type of Contract in Existence
on Jan. 15, 2020
Explanation

Basis Contract

Producer locks in a basis leaving the future price to be set later.

Basis Fixed Contract

No Price Established

Producer delivers commodity without setting a sales price.

Delayed Price

Deferred Price Contract


Ineligible CFAP Marketing Contracts for Non-Specialty Crops


Column one contains the type of ineligible CFAP marketing contracts for non-specialty crops in existence on Jan. 15, 2020, column two contains an explanation of the contract..
Type of Contract in Existence
on Jan. 15, 2020
Explanation

Cash Contract

Producer receives a cash price for a commodity when sold.

Fixed Price Contract

Forward Price Contract

Producer receives a cash price for a commodity based on a future delivery.

Cash Forward Contract

Minimum Price Contract

Producer locks in the cash price and buys a call option to establish a minimum price. The net cash price will never be less than the original cash value minus the cost of the call option.

Option Contract

Window Contract

Hedge to Arrive

Producer locks in a futures price leaving the basis to be set later.

Futures Fixed Contract

Futures Contract

CFAP Payments for Non-Specialty Crops

Producers will be paid based on inventory subject to price risk held as of January 15, 2020. A single payment will be made based on 50 percent of a producer’s 2019 total production or the 2019 inventory as of January 15, 2020, whichever is smaller, multiplied by 50 percent and then multiplied by the commodity’s applicable payment rates.

Producers must provide the following information for CFAP:

  • Total 2019 production for the commodity that suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline, and
  • Total 2019 production that was not sold as of January 15, 2020.

The table below lists eligible non-specialty commodities and payment rates for CFAP, based on the following formulation:

Payment per commodity = (Units x 50% x CARES rate) + (Units x 50% x CCC rate)

Units = Smaller of 1) 50 % of a producer’s 2019 total production OR

2) 2019 unpriced inventory as of Jan. 15, 2020.

Commodity

Unit of Measure

CARES Act Payment Rate

(Applied against 50% of unpriced inventory as of January 15, 2020, not to exceed 50 percent of 2019 total production)

CCC Payment Rate

(Applied against 50% of unpriced inventory as of January 15, 2020, not to exceed 50 percent of 2019 total production)

Barley1  bushel $0.34 $0.37
Canola pound $0.01 $0.01
Corn bushel $0.32 $0.35
Upland Cotton pound $0.09 $0.10
Millet bushel $0.31 $0.34
Oats bushel $0.15 $0.17
Sorghum bushel $0.30 $0.32
Soybeans bushel $0.45 $0.50
Sunflowers pound $0.02 $0.02
Wheat, Durum bushel $0.19 $0.20
Wheat, Hard Red Spring bushel $0.18 $0.20

1Expanded eligibility to include all barley instead of malting barley only per notice scheduled to publish in Federal Register September 21, 2020.

Additional information for non-specialty crop producers is available in our fact sheet, Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for Non-Specialty Crop Producers. This fact sheet is also available in Spanish and Puerto Rican Spanish.

Watch our CFAP for Dairy and Non-Specialty Crop Producers Webinar or CFAP for Livestock and Non-Specialty Crop Producers Webinar to learn more about the program.

 

Additional CFAP Information

Farm Service Agency staff at local USDA Service Centers will work with producers to file CFAP applications.

Visit farmers.gov/cfap1 for additional information on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, other eligible commodities, CFAP eligibility, payment limitations and structure, and how to apply.

Find Your Local Service Center

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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.

Learn more about our Urban Service Centers.

Visit the Risk Management Agency website to find a regional or compliance office or to find an insurance agent near you.