Specialty Crops Producers Eligible for COVID-19 Assistance

May 26, 2020

As part of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program (CFAP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide up to $2.1 billion in direct payments to specialty crops producers. The payments are one of several measures the USDA is taking to support America's specialty crops industry which has been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The payments will be based on losses where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and will help producers facing additional adjustments and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year as a result of COVID-19. 

Producers that fall into one of the following categories may be eligible to receive a direct payment:

• Sales with a price loss of five percent or more between January 15 and April 15, 2020. These specialty crops are eligible: almonds, artichokes, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, lemons, iceberg and romaine lettuce, dry onions, peaches, pears, pecans, bell and other types of peppers, rhubarb, spinach, squash, strawberries, and tomatoes

• Shipments that left the farm by April 15 and spoiled due to no market or for which no payment was received. All specialty crops are eligible.

• Shipments that have not left the farm or mature crops that remained unharvested by April 15. All specialty crops are eligible.

Producers of all eligible commodities may apply for assistance through their local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Center beginning on May 26. Additional information is available at the U.S Department of Agriculture's website: www.farmers.gov.cfap

Application Forms and Local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Center Locations