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Chinn says CFAP limits frustrate cattle producers

The Missouri Director of Agriculture says recent changes to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) have been helpful but more is needed. 

Chris Chinn tells Brownfield Ag News producers are frustrated with current CFAP payment limits. 

“There’s still a lot of frustration out here in the countryside about the payment limits. You know, your livestock industry in the state of Missouri has taken a big hit and the payment limits have not helped them get back to a point that makes them closer to whole. They’re still suffering quite a bit.”

The CFAP was recently broadened to include support for more specialty crops and aquaculture but Chinn says some producers that had livestock that were already included in the program weren’t able to qualify for aid. 

“If you talk to a lot of our cattlemen and women out here today they will tell you that there’s still a lot that needs to be done on the cattle side.”

Chinn says many cattle producers missed out on aid because they sold their cattle prior to the January 15^th aid start date. 

Chinn says she will bring concerns from Missouri farmers and ranchers to the virtual meeting of state ag departments later this month.  Brownfield interviewed Director Chinn at the Missouri State Fair fairgrounds this week.