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UPDATE ON USDA'S PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS
Mar. 29, 2021
Nat'l Sorghum Producers report:
USDA announced plans to distribute more than $12 billion in aid to farmers and ranchers approved by Congress last December. Additional sign-ups will not be necessary for row crop and cattle producers that previously signed up for CFAP as the latest round of payments is a top up. There will be $5.6 billion directed to these producers following the prescription for distribution spelled out in the statute.
The additional CFAP assistance of $20 per acre for price trigger and flat rate crop producers will be paid beginning in April. FSA will automatically send the CFAP-III payments to producers based on eligible acres paid under CFAP-II. Improvements are made for sales commodities by counting crop insurance, WHIP Plus, and NAP payments in receipts used to calculate payments to producers. However, swine and contract growers expecting payments under a final rule published in January will now have to wait for new program details and payments.
The announcement also includes $6 billion for biofuel producers, specialty crop producers and beginning farmers, among others. The announcement does not provide any program details.
The announcement further provides $500 million for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Farmers Opportunities Training and Outreach Program, the Local Agricultural Marketing Program, the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Agricultural Research Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills Program.
Finally, USDA will reopen CFAP-2 sign-up to improve access and outreach to socially disadvantaged producers.
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