CFAP, authorized in the CARES Act will provide $16 billion in direct support to agricultural producers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Direct support for farmers and ranchers available via CFAP will include direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19. For example if you had to dispose of produce because you lost sales, you may be eligible for a payment.

CFAP is available to farmers regardless of size and market outlet, if they suffered an eligible loss. Exactly how this will be done will be revealed at a webinar by USDA tomorrow where USDA will be going over the rules for the program and details about the payments on a webinar on the 14^th at 1:00. You can subscribe for the webinar here: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_SPWI7yOFSqaGG1JKzhEbjA?utm_campaign=0512cfapwebinar. 

 We will be sharing information about the program after the USDA webinar.

 If your farm business has been impacted by COVID-19 what can you do now?

 The rules for CFAP are coming out tomorrow (14^th) , with details about how losses will be measured and program payments will be calculated. While the application process has not started, you can start gathering/understanding your farm's recent sales and inventory.

 You need to be in USDA's system to be eligible for CFAP - this is the case for most USDA disaster programs, so even if you don't qualify for CFAP now, you may need USDA assistance someday.

 FSA has streamlined the signup process to not require an acreage report at the time of application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately needed.

 As part of applying for the program, you'll need to contact the Farm Service Agency county office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment. Your local FSA staff will work with you to apply for the program, and through forms that will ask for this type of information:

• Contact
• Personal, including your Tax Identification Number
• Farming operating structure
• Adjusted Gross Income to ensure eligibility
• Direct deposit to enable payment processing

 Please do not send any personal information to USDA without first initiating contact through a phone call. You can find contact information for your local USDA Service Center here https://www.farmers.gov/service-center-locator?fips=36019&state=NY&stateCode=36&cntyCode=019

 In addition to the application form, USDA staff will work with you to complete portions of the CCC-902 - Farm Operating Plan - if necessary. Additionally, the following forms will be needed for CFAP. If you are an existing customer, this information is likely on file at your local Service Center. If not, you can get a head start by getting info together for these.

• CCC-901 - Identifies members of a farm or ranch that is a legal entity. Member Information will be completed by legal entities and joint operations to collect the following:
•  member names, addresses, and Tax Identification Numbers
•  citizenship status

• CCC-941 - Reports your average adjusted gross income for programs where income restrictions apply.
• CCC-942 - If applicable, this certification reports income from farming, ranching and forestry for those exceeding the adjusted gross income limitation.
• AD-1026 - Ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed, identified wetland areas are protected, and conservation compliance provisions are met.
• AD-2047 - Provides basic customer contact information.
• SF-3881 - Collects your banking information to allow USDA to make payments to you via direct deposit.