Second Round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for Farms Now Available.

SOUTHWEST, NEW YORK (September 22, 2020) – The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program would like to highlight the USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) recent opening of the second round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for agricultural businesses. If you are an agricultural producer whose operation has been affected by COVID-19, you are likely eligible for this second round of support. FSA is currently accepting applications from agricultural businesses for this support. For more information, or to apply, visit www.farmers.gov/cfap or contact your local FSA office which can be found on FSA.USDA.Gov.

Applications will be accepted from September 21, 2020 through December 11, 2020. Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2, or CFAP 2, will provide producers with financial assistance that gives them the ability to absorb some of the increased costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. CFAP 2 payments will be made for three categories of commodities – Price Trigger Commodities, Flat-Rate Crops, and Sales Commodities. A detailed list of eligible commodities can be found here (www.farmers.gov/cfap).

Farm Service Agency staff at local USDA Service Centers will work with producers to file CFAP 2 applications. For existing FSA customers, including those who participated in CFAP 1, many application documents will already be on file. Producers should check with their FSA county office to see if any of the forms need to be updated. Agricultural businesses interested in one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance at their call center.

Many farms in our region continue to deal with economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shifts in product demand, processing delays, and decreasing commodity prices have significantly affected farm profitability. For more information, contact your local FSA office. In the Southwest NY region, the county offices can be reached at: Allegany (585) 268-5133; Cattaraugus (716) 699-2375; Chautauqua (716) 664-2351; Erie (716) 652-1400; Steuben (607) 776-7398.

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program specialists are here to help provide research-based resources and support during this challenging time. Their team of four specialists includes Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management (716-640-0522 or kaw249@cornell.edu); Joshua Putman, Field Crops (716-490-5572 or jap472@cornell.edu); Alycia Drwencke, Dairy Management (517-416-0386 or amd453@cornell.edu); and Amy Barkley, Livestock Management (716-640-0844 or amb544@cornell.edu). While specialists are working remotely at this time, they are still offering consultations via phone, text, email, videoconferencing, and mail. They are also providing weekly updates with timely resources and connections via email and hardcopy and virtual programming. For more information, or to be added to their notification list, contact Kelly Bourne, Administrative Assistant, at (585) 268-7644, klb288@cornell.edu or visit their website swnydlfc.cornell.edu.

The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program is the newest Cornell Cooperative Extension regional program and covers Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Steuben Counties. The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops regional specialists work with Cornell faculty and Extension educators to address the issues that influence the agricultural industry in New York by offering educational programming and research based information to agricultural producers, growers, and agribusinesses in the Southwestern New York Region. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Katelyn Walley-Stoll at 716-640-0522 or kaw249@cornell.edu. For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension, contact your county’s Association Executive Director. Allegany County – Laura Hunsberger, lkh47@cornell.edu or 585-268-7644. Cattaraugus County – Dick Rivers, rer263@cornell.edu or 716-699-2377. Chautauqua County – Emily Reynolds, eck47@cornell.edu or 716-664-9502. Erie County – Diane Held, dbh24@cornell.edu or 716-652-5400. Steuben County – Tess McKinley, tsm223@cornell.edu, or 607-664-2301. 

Last updated September 22, 2020