A U.S. Department of Agriculture web seminar for specialty crop growers on how to apply for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program is at 3 p.m. Eastern today.
Of the $16 billion in direct payments, $2.1 billion is allocated to specialty crop growers. The web seminar will feature a Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) specialist who will go over the steps to apply for the funds. Sign-up for the program ends Aug. 28.
The seminar will also address the Notice of Funding Availability process on submitting additional commodities for consideration. The deadline for those submissions is June 22.
The web seminar registration is online.
According to the USDA’s weekly report on CFAP payments, released June 8, specialty crop growers have received $24.8 million through the program so far, with 781 applications. Florida has received the most, with 95 applications totaling $11.55 million; California’s 161 applications totaled $5.9 million, and New Mexico’s 34 applications totaling $1.55 million.
Montana growers, with just two approved applications so far, have received $618,000. The USDA does not specify what crops are represented by the payments.
In Pennsylvania, where mushroom growers have seen large losses because of lost restaurant trade, 15 growers received about $472,000.
The USDA releases an updated list by 2 p.m. Eastern every Monday. Applications include those that have been approved as well as those signed by producers but not yet approved.
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