Source: USDA, 8/26/20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is Sept. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.“FSA offers several options for farmers and ranchers to apply for CFAP, including a call center where employees can answer your questions and help you get started on your application,” said Richard Fordyce, Farm Service Agency administrator. “With only two weeks before the deadline, now is the time to check out the resources on our website and contact the call center or your local office for your last-minute questions.” Over
160 commodities are eligible for CFAP, including certain non-specialty crops,
livestock, dairy, wool, specialty crops, eggs, aquaculture, and nursery crops
and cut flowers. All eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations can
be found on farmers.gov/cfap. Customers
seeking one-on-one support with the CFAP application process can call
877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer general
assistance. This is a recommended first step before a producer engages the team
at the FSA county office at their local USDA Service Center. Producers
have several options for applying to the CFAP program by the Sept. 11 deadline: =
Using an online portal, accessible at farmers.gov/cfap. This allows producers with secure USDA login credentials,
known as eAuthentication, to certify eligible commodities online, digitally
sign applications, and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center. =
Completing the application form using our CFAP Application
Generator and Payment Calculator found at farmers.gov/cfap. This Excel workbook allows
customers to input information specific to their operation to determine
estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed,
then signed, and submitted to their local USDA Service Center. =
Downloading the AD-3114 application form from farmers.gov/cfap and manually completing the form to submit to the local
USDA Service Center by mail, electronically, or by hand delivery to an office
drop box. In some limited cases, the office may be open for in-person business
by appointment. Visit farmers.gov/coronavirus/service-center-status to check the status of
your local office. USDA
Service Centers can also work with producers to complete and securely transmit
digitally signed applications through two commercially available tools: Box and
OneSpan. Producers who are interested in digitally signing their applications
should notify their local service centers when calling to discuss the CFAP
application process. You can learn more about these solutions at farmers.gov/mydocs. All
other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and
payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap/apply. For existing FSA customers,
these documents are likely already on file. All
USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to
visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center
visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation
Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an
appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen
visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to
social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face
covering during their appointment. Our program delivery staff will be in the
office, and they will be working with our producers in the office, by phone and
using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
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