The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) has released the details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which provides payment to eligible farmers who have been affected by the 2020 pandemic. The application process opens today, Tuesday, May 26, and you must complete your application by Aug. 28, so don’t wait until the last day to begin the process.
The entire application process is through the USDA FSA, not our Extension office here in Trenton. Our local FSA office is in LaFayette and the number there is (706) 638-1558 ext 2. They are seeing applicants by appointment only, so be sure to call and schedule before making the trip to the office. Ask to speak and meet with either Christy or Chalee.
I will provide a brief overview below, but you can find the full details of the program by going to the official website: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap
Cattle (2 parts):
Part A – Cattle producers who sold cattle between January 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020, are eligible. This can be cattle sold at the sale barn or to your neighbor down the road, as long as you have a receipt. Receipts will be requested at your appointment with FSA during the application process.
Part B – Cattle producers who have owned cattle (inventory) between April 16, 2020, and May 14, 2020, are eligible. Pick one day in that time period where you had the greatest number of head and report that number. This includes all cattle (cows, calves, bulls).
Hogs and Sheep: Hog and sheep producers are also eligible for the program, but all sheep must be less than 2 years old.
Goats: Goats were not included in the original plan for the program but may be added soon because there have been continued meetings this week regarding the program and goats were up for discussion in these meetings.
Crops: Row crop producers are eligible for the program if they had any inventory held over past January 15, 2020, that was from the previous 2019 production year.
Please note that this is not a complete list of eligibility and details. Please reference the website or call our local FSA representatives for more information.
--Sarah Dyer
sarahdyer@uga.edu
