Local Farmers Dealing With COVID Losses Can Get Help

Farmers and producers suffering from COVID-related financial losses can apply for the USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

The program pays monies to compensate for market losses when the market was closed and livestock prices fell during the pandemic. White County Farm Service Agency Director Chad Huddleston said farmers have until August 28 to apply.

“It pays a subsidy based on the amount of whatever product you had that you sold,” Huddleston said. “It’ll also pay like on livestock, it’ll pay for cattle that you still have or had on inventory between April 16 and May 14 of 2020.”

Huddleston said to qualify, the farmer or producer must have suffered a five percent or greater price decline. The producer must also face substantial marketing costs for inventories.

The agriculture portion of the program includes non-specialty crops such as oats, soybeans and barley; and specialty crops like almonds, carrots, and strawberries. The livestock portion of the program include cattle, hogs and pigs, lambs and yearlings.

Huddleston said if a farmer sold livestock between January 15 and April 15, the loss is calculated at 80 percent.

“If you sold a 600 pound calf between January and April, it’s paying you $102 per head,” Huddleston said. “If you owned any or still do own any between April 16 and May 14, it pays $33 per head…if there’s funds remaining at the end of the sign up period…then you’ll get an additional 20 percent on top of that.”

The USDA program began the application process across the nation in May with $16 billion in CARES Act funding. Huddleston said so far over 550 have signed up for for the program across Putnam, White, and Van Buren Counties.

To see if you’re eligible, call 931-738-7822 or visit the USDA’s website.