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USDA adds to and extends CFAP enrollment

USDA has added more commodities to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and extended the deadline to enroll until September 11.

Undersecretary Bill Northey tells Brownfield about new 60 commodities have been included.

“Some aquaculture, horticulture crops, we’re adding liquid and frozen eggs, so several different commodities this time around.”

Northey says about $7 billion of the allotted $16 billion has been paid to farmers so far and FSA is issuing the remaining 20 percent of payments due to producers.

“That will be another $1.7 billion, we’ll write those checks next week.”

He says FSA is also working on how an additional $14 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds as part of the CARES Act and any new dollars from Congress will be spent.  He sees a combination of expanded direct payments to producers beyond the CFAP timeframe of January through April as well as other ag entities like processors benefiting.