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UGA Extension Viticulture Blog

COVID 19 Assistance for Farmers

Written by

Phil Brannen

See below for a message from our Associate Dean relative new funds that are available for helping farmers. I am not sure whether wine grape producers could benefit from these funds or not, but I am sure that muscadine producers for fresh market consumption could benefit. At a minimum, I would follow up to ask relative all categories of grape use.

Ag Agents and Specialists –

Please note this important info on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).  I encourage you to make the farmers you work with aware of this direct assistance program. You should direct them to their local USDA Service Center. They should apply ASAP as the funds will go fast! Thanks for helping to spread the word!

Commodity Purchase

USDA will provide $ 3 billion for commodity purchase (including meat, dairy and produce to support producers and provide food to those in need. USDA will work with local food and regional distributors to deliver food to food banks, as well as community and faith-based organizations to provide food to those in need.) Food Box Program.

Direct Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers 

USDA will provide $16 billion in direct payments to farmers and ranchers including:

  • $9.6 billion for the livestock industry
    • $5.1 billion for cattle
    • $2.9 billion for dairy
    • $1.6 billion for hogs
  • $3.9 billion for row crop producers
  • $2.1 billion for specialty crops producers
  • $500 million for others crops (horticulture, aquaculture, sheep, goats, etc.)

Producers will receive a single payment determined using two calculations:

  • Price losses that occurred January 1-April 15, 2020. Producers will be compensated for 85% of price loss during that period.
  • Second part of the payment will be expected losses from April 15 through the next two quarters, and will cover 30% of expected losses.

The payment limit is $125,000 per commodity with an overall limit of $250,000 per individual or entity. Qualified commodities must have experienced a 5% price decrease between January and April.

Farmers who have received PPP or EIDL program funding are still eligible for Direct Assistance program funding.

Apply through your local USDA Service Center.  Many remain closed so call to schedule an appointment.

Program is open to all producers regardless of size.

******************************

Laura Perry Johnson, PhD

Associate Dean for Extension

111 Conner Hall, University of Georgia

Athens, GA 30602

lpj4h@uga.edu 

706-542-3824

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Phil Brannen

Phil Brannen is a Professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate degree in Plant Protection and Pest Management, where he also received an M.S. in Plant Pathology, followed by a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Auburn University. He has extensive experience with disease management programs in numerous cropping systems. He serves as the extension fruit pathologist for Georgia – conducting research and technology transfer for multiple fruit commodities. His efforts are directed towards developing IPM practices to solve disease issues and technology transfer of disease-management methods to commercial fruit producers. He also teaches the graduate level Field Pathology Course, the History of Plant Diseases and their Impact on Human Societies Course, team-teaches the IPM Course, coordinates the Viticulture and Enology in the Mediterranean Region Course (Cortona, Italy), and guest lectures in numerous other courses throughout the year.

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