After extensive work with Congressman Collin Peterson and other congressional offices, alfalfa farmers are now eligible for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2). The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) along with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will be hosting a webinar to provide farmers with details regarding the program. The webinar specifically for alfalfa farmers will be Thursday, October 15 at 12:00 noon.
Participants will have an opportunity to learn about CFAP 2 available to eligible farmers and ranchers whose operations have been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. CFAP 2 payments provide eligible producers financial assistance which gives them the ability to absorb some of the increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. The webinar will highlight basic program information and educational outreach resources that are available.
Farm Service Agency staff, including Supervisory Agricultural Program Specialist Calvin Gellatly, will review eligibility, the application process, and how payments are calculated. FSA staff will also take questions from participants.
To register for the CFAP 2 Webinar, click here, or visit the NAFA website at alfalfa.org and click the link under CFAP Webinar for Alfalfa Farmers on the right.
FSA will be accepting applications for CFAP 2 through Dec. 11, 2020. To find the latest information on CFAP, including forms and the contact information for your local Service Center, visit farmers.gov/cfap.
The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) is also collaborating with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to develop a Research Strategy for the alfalfa industry. Through funding opportunities, including NAFA’s Alfalfa Checkoff, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service alfalfa research, and USDA’s Alfalfa Seed & Alfalfa Forage Systems (ASAFS) competitive research program, NAFA has built a critical mass in available research funding, making it desirable to have a focused research plan for the alfalfa industry. Direction is needed to ensure the most critical research needs within the industry are being met.
In an effort to identify those needs, NAFA is seeking input to help focus future research programs and projects. Alfalfa researchers, farmers, agronomists, seed marketers, and anyone involved with the alfalfa community are encouraged to share their views and complete the survey.
To complete the online survey, click here
Participants should complete the survey no later than Monday, October 19.
