USDA food assistance program renewed for farmers, ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced up to an additional $14 billion in a second Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated marketing costs because of COVID-19.

CFAP 2 will provide crop producers and livestock producers with financial assistance that gives them the ability to absorb some of the increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Signup opened on Sept. 21 and continues through Dec. 11 through local Farm Service Agency locations. South Carolina alone has issued more than $31,579,068 in payments.

Sumter farmers and ranchers have received more than $156,583 in payments.

Payments will be made for three categories of payment calculations: sales commodities, price trigger commodities and flat-rate row crops. Many more commodities are eligible in CFAP 2 that weren't eligible in CFAP 1, including hemp, tobacco, ELS cotton, broilers for non-contact poultry growers, shell and dried eggs, turkeys, bison, all classes of wheat and more.

The Sumter County Farm Service Agency is taking applications. CFAP 2 is a separate program from the first round of assistance, so farmers and ranchers who participated in CFAP 1 will not be automatically enrolled and must complete a new application.

While many USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, Sumter FSA is working with agricultural producers by phone and using email and online tools to process applications, according to Richard Geddings III, county executive director.

Producers should call the Sumter County FSA office at (803) 905-7650 or email richard.geddings@usda.gov to schedule an appointment or receive more information about the program.

More information about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program can be found at www.farmers.gov/cfap.