The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hosting a web seminar for growers who want to apply for direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
The seminar is at 1 p.m. Eastern May 14. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and Farm Service Agency are hosting the seminar to inform participants about the application process and the required documentation before the official sign-up starts, according to a news release.
Producers who have not participated in FSA programs before are “especially encouraged” to participate in the web seminar, according to the release.
Through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, the USDA is giving $16 billion in direct payouts to producers, $2.1 billion of which is for specialty crop growers. The livestock industry is receiving $9.6 billion, $3.9 billion goes to row crop producers and $500 million goes to other crops.
Payments are determined by two calculations:
- Price losses that occurred January 1-April 15. Producers will be compensated for 85% of price loss during that period; and
- Expected losses from April 15 through the next two quarters, and will cover 30% of expected losses.
For more coverage of the pandemic, see The Packer’s COVID-19 webpage.
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