Aug 19, 2020

CFAP Webinar Recording Now Available

In an effort to provide direct relief to producers who faced price declines, inventory loss and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19, the USDA has recently expanded eligibility for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to include nursery crops and cut flowers.

“For countless horticultural producers, the effects of the coronavirus’ sudden closure of markets during our peak selling season risked destroying businesses across the supply chain. We are happy to report Secretary Sonny Perdue and Under Secretary Bill Northey responded with understanding to help the industry successfully navigate the pandemic by expanding eligibility to this program,” said Craig Regelbrugge, vice president of advocacy and government relations.

On Monday, August 17, AmericanHort hosted a webinar to help the industry understand how the CFAP could benefit them. The recording and other resources can be found online at the Coronavirus Resource Center.

Takeaways for nurseries include:

• The CFAP program was expanded on August 11 to include 60 additional commodities – among them, nursery crops and cut flowers have been added.
• Producers who qualify for CFAP will receive a 100 percent payment once their applications are approved.  Payments will be the sum of CARES Act payments and CCC payments.
• The application deadline has been extended to September 11, 2020 (applications will be accepted starting on August 17).

The specific crops that are eligible for CFAP are:

• Nursery crops – decorative or non-decorative plants grown in a container or controlled environment for commercial sale.
• Cut flowers – cut flowers and cut greenery from annual and perennial flowering plants grown in a container or controlled environment for commercial sale.

Field-grown crops can be considered “controlled environment” if they are not wild harvested and the producer has some aspect of the following:

• Control of the land or soil
• Providing nutrients
• Control of irrigation
• Insect infestation or disease control

There are two funds the USDA is using to fund the program:

1. CARES Act: For nursery crop and cut flower inventory that was shipped but subsequently spoiled or is unpaid due to loss of marketing channels between January 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020, the wholesale value of the inventory that was shipped that spoiled or is unpaid, multiplied by 15.55%.
2. CCC Charter Act: For nursery crop and cut flower inventory that did not leave the farm between January 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020, due to a complete loss of marketing channel, the wholesale value of the inventory ready for sale that did not leave the farm by April 15, 2020, and that will not be sold due to lack of markets, multiplied by 13.45%.

To watch the full webinar for additional details, click here.

For more information, including application and eligibility forms, go to www.farmers.gov/cfap.