Stay Informed

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 2.0 for contract growers.

Farm Service Agency has been taking applications for CFAP since March, but Oct. 12, 2021, will be the deadline to either apply for this assistance or to modify your current application.

The updates to the program allow contract growers of livestock and specialty crops to receive assistance for pandemic revenue losses. Scott Bennett, American Farm Bureau Federation congressional relations director, said the change relates to how contract growers show their losses.

“What this does is allow contract pork and poultry producers, among additional commodities, to now receive up to 80% of their revenue loss between 2020 and either 2019 or 2018,” Bennett said in an interview with Newsline, AFBF’s podcast. “The 2018 calendar year can now be used in lieu of the 2019 calendar year to establish a revenue loss for payment through this program.”

Bennett added that this more accurately reflects the needs of contract growers.

“The American Farm Bureau has been instrumental, working with the Department of Agriculture on this program,” he said. “We have up to $1 billion available for contract growers that have seen a revenue loss in 2020. This update also includes breeding stock and eggs of all eligible poultry types produced under the contract.”

For more information, contact your local FSA office.