Additional COVID-19 relief available for US contract broiler producers
The USDA is providing additional assistance to poultry farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), applications are being accepted from 19 January.
18 January 2021
3 minute read
By: The new round of assistance through CFAP will expand eligibility for some agricultural producers and commodities as well as updating payments to accurately compensate some producers who already applied for the program. Producers who are now eligible and those who need to modify existing applications due to these updates can contact USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) between 19 January and 26 February.
Contract producers of broilers, pullets, laying hens, chicken eggs (breeders), turkeys and swine who suffered a drop in revenue in 2020 as compared to their 2019 revenue because of the pandemic now are eligible for assistance. Producers could receive up to 80 percent of their revenue loss, subject to the availability of funds. Eligible producers must:
- have raised broilers, pullets, layers, chicken eggs, turkeys, hogs, or pigs under a contract in 2019 and 2020.
- demonstrate a drop in revenue for the period from 1 January 2020, through 27 December 2020, as compared to the period from 1 January 2019, through 27 December 2019.
- provide a copy of their contract and documentation to support the information provided on their application, if requested by FSA.
NCC was a leading advocate for including these funds in the most recent COVID-19 stimulus bill passed by Congress in late December. “We are pleased that after several months of discussions this has come to fruition and our hard working chicken growers that were impacted by COVID-19 will finally get some relief,” said NCC President Mike Brown.
Payments are based on eligible sales, and the payment calculation in the updated rule includes crop insurance indemnities, Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), and Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) payments. Newly eligible producers who need to submit a CFAP 2 application can do so between 19 January and 26 February 2021, by contacting their local USDA Service Centre. New applicants can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364.
