Be Ready – Second CFAP Program to be Released by USDA
We are currently under our seventh month of a world-wide pandemic, and the United States Department of Agriculture announced last week there is going to be a second Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to be released.
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program better known as “CFAP” was a price support assistance program that Nevada producers could access. In Nevada, this provided price supports for dairy, cattle, pigs, sheep, specialty crops and some non-specialty crops. The program was put in place for producers of agricultural commodities that suffered a 5% or greater price decline and producers who had losses caused by market supply disruptions due to COVID-19. There have been additions to the program over the last few months and the deadline was extended.
For Cattle, there were designations by weight, and producers were paid a fixe- fee payment based on weight, which determined the livestock category under Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 was payment eligibility based on livestock sold between January 15, 2020 to April 15, 2020. Part 2 was based on the highest inventory of owned eligible livestock between April 16, 2020 to May 14, 2020. USDA paid out the first 80% of your approved payment within a couple of weeks of the application. My hope is that all livestock producers in Nevada took advantage of this program over the summer.
The second payment or the 20% withheld from the overall CFAP payment should have hit your accounts sometime in August. I had several producers comment that the money hit their accounts, and then they got a letter from USDA a few days later. Most commented that it was a nice needed addition to start the fall.
I have a zoom call every Friday that is part of a large collaborative project called Native Waters of Arid Lands CARES Group and is dealing with COVID-19 agriculture issues related to land and water issues on tribal lands in the Western United States. USDA is on this call and a USDA-Farm Service Agency representative said to be expecting a CFAP 2 to be released soon that is 100% better than the first one. I really don’t know what 100% better means?
What I do know is that producers need to continue their record keeping of cattle numbers and price losses. It always helps when a program is announced if you already have your cattle counts and sale receipts handy. It was nice under the first CFAP program that you could self-certify your cattle counts, but always try to have your back-up documentation as you never know when it will be needed and/or requested. I personally am hoping that CFAP 2 provides price supports for fall cattle sales. We will have to wait and see what is released.
On another note, Nevada producers should also be paying attention to the drought monitor for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). As we get past the “D2” designation for 8-weeks in a row, this program begins to kick in for livestock producers on rangeland and pastureland. It also provides support as a result of not being able to graze a permit because of fire. I checked the drought monitor this morning and most of the state is at a “D2” level and eastern Nevada is at a “D3” level. This means that this program is available and to check with your local Farm Service Agency office. The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) is also an additional emergency support that I believe provides assistance for water hauling or other losses not covered by existing disaster programs.
While this not has been the greatest year, I believe we are surviving and changing. USDA has stepped up and is offering support programs and I hope that producers are using them. I look forward to seeing what the new CFAP 2 is all about. I hope all of you stay safe and have a great September and October.
Editorial by Staci Emm