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 nursery and cut flowers 

(including cut greenery) producers who have an 

ownership interest in nursery crops and cut flowers 

that have suffered a five-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. 

• Nursery crops include decorative or nondecorative 

plants grown in a container or controlled 

environment for commercial sale. 

• Cut flowers include cut flowers and cut greenery 

from annual and perennial flowering plants grown 

in a container or controlled environment for 

commercial sale.

“Controlled environment” is met when growers take 

actions to grow crops, including field grown crops, that are 

considered normal practices for that crop in that region 

(structures, fields, facilities, soil, water, nutrients, etc.).

United States

Department of

Agriculture

CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

for Nursery Crops and Cut Flowers

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

FACT SHEET - AUGUST 14, 2020

Some examples of how field grown crops can be 

considered “controlled”:

• Control of the land or soil

• Providing nutrients

• Control of irrigation

• Insect infestation or disease control

Payments

CFAP payments for nursery crops and cut flowers will 

be based on a percentage of the producer’s wholesale 

value of inventory. Payments will be the sum of CARES 

Act payments and CCC payments as follows:

1. CARES Act Payments: For nursery crop and 

cut flower inventory that was shipped but 

subsequently spoiled or is unpaid due to loss of 

marketing channels between January 15, 2020, and 

April 15, 2020, the wholesale value of the inventory 

that was shipped that spoiled or is unpaid, 

multiplied by 15.55 percent; and
CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM NURSERY CROPS & CUT FLOWERS 2

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

2. CCC Payments: For nursery crop and cut flower 

inventory that did not leave the farm between 

January 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020, due to a 

complete loss of marketing channel, the wholesale 

value of the inventory ready for sale that did not 

leave the farm by April 15, 2020, and that will not 

be sold due to lack of markets, multiplied by 

13.45 percent. 

Nursery crop and cut flower inventory that may be sold 

after April 15, 2020, is not eligible for CFAP.

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.