Short version: call or contact your local USDA - Farm Service Agency today!  

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) provides assistance to farmers and ranchers financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The USDA has yet to open the applications for this money, but they have said to begin the process ASAP if you are a farmer who has experienced a loss due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

You must make a phone call to your local FSA office to start the process.

Direct support for farmers and ranchers available via CFAP will include:  

• Direct support based on actual losses because of price and disrupted supply chains.  
• Assist with adjustment and added marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply in the 2020 marketing year.  

All farms are eligible for this assistance, regardless of size. This is especially important for small farms, as they are less likely to have the insurance necessary to help them float above this crisis. 

The USDA is already warning, however, that this assistance package will not be enough to cover all losses to the US agriculture industry. 

For more information on how to prepare for this application, including a list of all the forms you need, head to: 
https://www.ncat.org/coronavirus-food-assistance-program/ 

Or, you can check out the question of the week from ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture: 
https://attra.ncat.org/how-can-the-coronavirus-food-assistance-program-help-producers/ 

If you need help contact us here at ATTRA, always ready to help.  

1. Call our toll-free ATTRA helpline (U.S. only):  
   800-346-9140 (English) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m Central Time  
   800-411-3222 (Español) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time 

2. Ask online, using the green chat box at the bottom of the ATTRA website 

3. Send an email to [log in to unmask]