USDA is providing critical support to our nation’s 

farmers and ranchers through the Coronavirus 

Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP provides 

vital financial assistance to producers of 

agricultural commodities with financial assistance 

that gives them the ability to absorb sales declines 

and increased marketing costs associated with the 

COVID-19 pandemic. 

Overview

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability Act 

(CARES Act) and the Commodity Credit Corporation 

(CCC) Charter Act authorized the funds for the CFAP. 

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS) administer the program.

FSA is accepting applications for CFAP from

May 26, 2020, to September 11, 2020.

Who is Eligible?

CFAP assistance is available to eligible aquaculture 

producers who have an ownership interest in 

aquaculture commodities that have suffered a 

5-percent-or-greater price loss or experienced an 

abrupt drop in sales as a result of the COVID-19 

pandemic and face additional significant costs in caring 

for their inventories due to unexpected surplus. 

USDA announced on August 11 that certain 

aquaculture commodities grown and harvested from 

controlled environments, including raceways, ponds, 

tanks, and recirculating systems, are eligible for CFAP. 

Eligible commodities include:

• Crayfish

• Catfish

• Largemouth Bass, sold live as foodfish

• Carp, sold live as foodfish 

• Hybrid Striped Bass

• Red Drum

• Salmon

United States

Department of

Agriculture

CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

for Aquaculture Producers

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

FACT SHEET - AUGUST 14, 2020

• Sturgeon

• Tilapia

• Trout

• Ornamentals/Tropicals

• Recreational Sportfish

Payments

Aquaculture payments differ for eligible fish and 

crustaceans. CFAP payments will be calculated as 

outlined below.

Eligible Fish

CFAP payments for eligible aquaculture species, 

excluding crawfish, are the sum of:

1. the aquaculture species sold from January 15, 2020, 

through April 15, 2020, multiplied by the CARES Act 

payment rate; and

2. inventory of the aquaculture species that was 

not sold but was market size and available to be 

marketed between January 15, 2020, and April 15, 

2020, multiplied by the CCC payment rate.
CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AQUACULTURE PRODUCERS 2

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Crawfish

CFAP payments for crawfish are the sum of:

1. crayfish sold from January 15, 2020, through April 

15, 2020, multiplied by the CARES Act payment rate; 

and

2. crawfish inventory that was not sold as of April 15, 

2020, due to lack of market and will not be sold in 

calendar year 2020, multiplied by the CCC 

payment rate.

• The following table lists eligible aquaculture 

commodities and payment rates for CFAP.

COMMODITY UNIT OF 

MEASURE

CARES ACT 

PART 1 

PAYMENT 

RATE*

CCC 

PART 2

PAYMENT 

RATE*

Crawfish Pound $0.65 $0.05

Catfish Pound – $0.07

Largemouth Bass 

and Carp Sold as 

Foodfish

Pound $0.51 $0.39

Hybrid Striped 

Bass Pound – $0.25

Red Drum Pound – $0.24

Salmon Pound $1.14 $0.31

Sturgeon Pound – $0.29

Tilapia Pound – $0.16

Trout Pound – $0.11

Ornamental/

Tropical Fish Piece – $0.03

Recreational 

Sportfish Pound – $0.27

Frozen Eggs Pound $0.06 $0.02

Payment Limitations

CFAP payments are subject to a per person and legal 

entity payment limitation of $250,000. This limitation 

applies to the total amount of CFAP payments made 

with respect to all eligible commodities.

Unlike other FSA programs, special payment limitation 

rules are applied to participants that are corporations, 

limited liability companies, and limited partnerships 

(corporate entities). These corporate entities may 

receive up to $750,000 based upon the number of 

shareholders (not to exceed three shareholders) who 

are contributing at least 400 hours of active person 

management or personal active labor. 

For a corporate entity:

• With one such shareholder, the payment limit for 

the entity is $250,000;

• With two such shareholders, the payment limit 

for the entity is $500,000 if at least two members 

contribute at least 400 hours of active personal 

labor or active personal management, or 

combination thereof, with respect to the operation 

of the corporate entity; and 

• With three such shareholders, the limit is $750,000 

if at least three members contribute at least 400 

hours of active personal labor or active personal 

management, or combination thereof, with respect 

to the operation of the corporate entity. 

How to Apply

FSA staff at your local USDA Service Center will work 

with producers to file applications. Applications may be 

submitted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or via electronic 

means. Please call your office prior to sending 

applications electronically.

The CFAP application and associated forms are 

available online at farmers.gov/cfap. 

More Information

This fact sheet is for informational purposes only; other 

restrictions may apply. For more information about the 

CFAP program, visit farmers.gov/cfap or contact your 

local FSA office. Additionally, producers in search of 

one-on-one support with the CFAP application process 

can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA 

employee ready to offer assistance.

To find your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/cfap.