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 August 28, 2020.

Who is Eligible?

CFAP payments are eligible to producers of nonspecialty commodities, who have suffered a five 

percent-or-greater price decline over a specified time 

as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and who face 

increased marketing costs for inventories. 

Eligible Commodities

The following non-specialty crops are eligible for CFAP 

payments: malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, 

millet, oats, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, durum 

wheat, and hard red spring wheat. 

Crops intended for grazing are not eligible.

Producers will be paid based on inventory subject to 

price risk held as of January 15, 2020. A single payment 

will be made based on 50 percent of a producer’s 2019 

total production or the unpriced 2019 inventory as of 

January 15, 2020, whichever is smaller, multiplied by 

50 percent and then multiplied by the commodity’s 

applicable payment rates.

To apply, a producer must provide the following:

• total 2019 production for the commodity that 

suffered a five percent- or-greater loss 

• total 2019 production that was not sold as of 

January 15, 2020

United States

Department of

Agriculture

CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

for Non-Specialty Crop Producers

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

FACT SHEET - JUNE 24, 2020

The chart below outlines CFAP eligibility for certain market 

contracts and only applies to non-specialty crops.

TYPE OF CONTRACT IN 

EXISTENCE ON 

JAN. 15, 2020

EXPLANATION

CONTRACTS ELIGIBLE FOR CFAP

Basis Contract Producer locks in a basis leaving 

Basis Fixed Contract the future price to be set later.

No Price Established Producer delivers commodity 

Delayed Price without setting a sales price.

Deferred Price Contract

CONTRACTS INELIGIBLE FOR CFAP

Cash Contract Producer receives a cash price 

for a commodity when sold. Fixed Price Contract

Forward Price Contract Producer receives a cash price 

for a commodity based on a 

future delivery.

Cash Forward Contract

Minimum Price Contract Producer locks in the cash price 

and buys a call option to establish 

a minimum price. The net cash 

price will never be less than the 

original cash value minus the cost 

of the call option.

Option Contract

Window Contract

Hedge to Arrive Producer locks in a futures 

price leaving the basis to be 

set later.

Futures Fixed Contract

Futures Contract
CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM NON-SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCERS 2

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Payment per commodity = (Units x 50% x CARES rate) + (Units x 50% x CCC rate)

Units = Smaller of 1) 50 % of a producer’s 2019 total production OR 

 2) 2019 unpriced inventory as of Jan. 15, 2020.

COMMODITY UNIT OF 

MEASURE

CARES ACT PART 1 

PAYMENT RATE

CCC 

PART 2

PAYMENT RATE

Barley (malting 

barley only) bushel $0.34 $0.37

Canola pound $0.01 $0.01

Corn bushel $0.32 $0.35

Upland Cotton pound $0.09 $0.10

Millet bushel $0.31 $0.34

Oats bushel $0.15 $0.17

Sorghum bushel $0.30 $0.32

Soybeans bushel $0.45 $0.50

Sunflowers pound $0.02 $0.02

Wheat, Durum bushel $0.19 $0.20

Wheat, Hard Red Spring bushel $0.18 $0.20

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. 

Payment Structure

To ensure the availability of funding throughout the 

application period, producers will receive 80 percent 

of their maximum total payment upon approval of the 

application. The remaining portion of the payment, not 

to exceed the payment limit, will be paid at a later date 

as funds remain available.

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.