National Farmers Union
During a campaign rally in Wisconsin last week, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would provide a second tranche of pandemic aid through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
The following day, USDA indicated that an additional $14 billion would be available to affected farmers and ranchers and that some new commodities will be covered, including wine grapes, goats, bison, mohair, tobacco, hemp, mink and some varieties of wheat. Additionally, the agency has changed how payment rates will be calculated, which will allow more producers to qualify for assistance – find more information about that here.
In order to be eligible, farmers must comply with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions and earn less than $900,000 in adjusted gross income, unless at least 75 percent or more of their income is derived from agricultural activities. Each individual or entity can receive up to $250,000 in total, with some exceptions.
In a statement, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew conveyed appreciation for the financial support and urged the USDA to address disparities in the initial distribution of assistance. “The first round of funding, though greatly appreciated, was not without its flaws; not only did it favor large farms over smaller ones, it also sent millions of dollars to foreign-owned operations and excluded some farmers entirely,” said Larew. “With Congressional oversight, we ask that USDA rectify these issues and ensure that payments are commensurate with demonstrated need.” Citing economy-wide impacts and high unemployment rates, he also called on Congress to “provide the support that all Americans need to withstand the crisis.” Read the full statement here.
Applications are open until December 11. Learn more and apply here.