Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Toolkit for Stakeholders — USDA

Summary

A toolkit titled Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Toolkit for Stakeholders, in which USDA says it is preparing to open the application period for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. It states that the program will use funding and authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and other USDA existing authorities, and will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to producers. The toolkit lists key messages, a newsletter article, an infographic, social media posts and social media story posts. The key messages tell producers to call the Farm Service Agency county office to schedule an appointment once the application period opens and say FSA offices are open by phone appointment only.

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Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Toolkit for Stakeholders

USDA is preparing to open the application period for the Coronavirus Food Assistance
Program, particularly the payments to agricultural producers to help offset direct losses
as well as additional adjustment and marketing costs.

CFAP will use funding and authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and other USDA
existing authorities. In total, this program will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments
to producers to help offset impacts from the pandemic.

We need your help. In advance of opening the application period, we want to share
information with producers on how they will apply, what type of information is needed,
and what the process will look like. This toolkit includes:
    • Key messages
    • Newsletter article
    • Infographic
    • Social media posts
    • Social media story posts

If you have questions, you can reach us at fpac.bc.press@usda.gov.




       FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION | FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center
Key Messages

 •   USDA will soon begin taking applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance
     Program.
 •   Once the application period opens, please call the Farm Service Agency county
     office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment. Find your
     office and more information at farmers.gov/cfap.
 •   The FSA staff is available to help. While FSA offices are open by phone
     appointment only, staff will work with you via phone, email, fax, mail, or online
     tools to receive your application.
 •   Your local FSA staff will work with you to apply for the program, and various
     forms will ask for this type of information:
         o Contact
         o Personal, including your Tax Identification Number
         o Farming operating structure
         o Adjusted Gross Income to ensure eligibility
         o Direct deposit to enable payment processing
 •   If you are an existing customer, this information is likely on file at your local
     Service Center.
 •   FSA has streamlined the application process to not require an acreage report at
     the time of application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately
     needed.
 •   What can you do now? While the application process has not started, you can
     start gathering/understanding your farm’s recent sales and inventory.
 •   Once signup begins and USDA begins accepting applications, more program
     information and forms will be available at farmers.gov/CFAP.
 •   New to working with FSA? FSA has county offices located at USDA Service
     Centers across the country. You can find your office and more information on
     CFAP at farmers.gov/CFAP.




     FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION | FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center
Newsletter Article
USDA will soon begin taking applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
As part of applying for the program, you’ll need to contact the Farm Service Agency
county office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment. Find your
office at farmers.gov/cfap.

Your local FSA staff will work with you to apply for the program, and through forms
asking for this type of information:

   •   Contact
   •   Personal, including your Tax Identification Number
   •   Farming operating structure
   •   Adjusted Gross Income to ensure eligibility
   •   Direct deposit to enable payment processing

Please do not send any personal information to USDA without first initiating contact
through a phone call.

FSA has streamlined the signup process to not require an acreage report at the time of
application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately needed.

If you are an existing customer, this information is likely on file at your local Service
Center.

What Can You Do Now?

While the application process has not started, you can start gathering and
understanding your farm’s recent sales and inventory.

How Will USDA Accept Applications?

USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only. Once the
application period opens, please call your FSA county office to schedule an
appointment.

Our staff are working with our agricultural producers by phone and using email, fax,
mail, and online tools to accept applications.

New to Working with the Farm Service Agency?

FSA has county offices located at USDA Service Centers across the country. To find
your office and more information on CFAP, visit farmers.gov/CFAP.


       FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION | FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center
Infographic
Click graphic to download:




      FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION | FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center
Sample Posts for Facebook and Twitter
Below are social media posts for use on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms. Be
sure to tag us: @USDA, @FarmersGov, @usdaFSA, and @USDA_AMS.

   •   USDA will soon begin taking applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance
       Program. Learn more: farmers.gov/CFAP

   •   Whether your farm is large or small, if you’ve lost business due to the pandemic,
       you’ll be soon be able to apply for financial aid under the Coronavirus Food
       Assistance Program. farmers.gov/CFAP

   •   Many farmers have lost business due to the pandemic. Even if you’ve never
       worked with the @USDA or @USDAFSA before, consider applying for financial
       aid under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. farmers.gov/CFAP

   •   Farmers who have lost income due to COVID-19 will be able to apply for aid
       under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Signup begins soon, but you
       can start preparing now. farmers.gov/CFAP

   •   The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide $16 billion to ag
       producers who suffered losses because of the pandemic. Signup to begin soon,
       but producers can start preparing now. farmers.gov/CFAP

Click each graphic to download:




       FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION | FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION | FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center
Sample Posts for Instagram Story and Facebook Story
Below are graphics for use on Instagram Story and Facebook Story. If your account is
enabled to include links, please include farmers.gov/CFAP. Be sure to tag us: @USDA,
@FarmersGov, @USDA_AMS.

We recommend a story with three graphics. Graphics 2 and 3 have multiple options.
Click on each graphic to download. If you want us to develop another option, please
email us at fpac.bc.press@usda.gov.

Click each graphic to download:


 1




 2




      FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION | FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center
3




    FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION | FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center


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