More USDA assistance for alfalfa growers

By Mike Rankin, Managing Editor

The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) reminds alfalfa growers that USDA reopened the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) as a component of the administration’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.

The USDA is dedicating $6.5 billion in funding to reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. The CFAP 2 sign-up, which originally ended on December 11, 2020, was reopened on April 5, 2021, and will remain open for at least 60 days.

Alfalfa growers originally received $15 per eligible acre under CFAP 2. Under the reopened CFAP 2, farmers are eligible to receive an additional $20 per acre.

According to USDA, Farm Service Agency (FSA) will automatically issue payments to eligible producers who already submitted their CFAP 2 applications during the original sign-up. Eligible producers who have already applied for CFAP 2 do not need to submit a new application to receive the additional $20 per acre payment on eligible acres.

Of course, many other commodities and livestock are also eligible for additional payments. For more information, reference this fact sheet provided by the FSA. A list of frequently asked questions can be found here.