Second Round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for Farms Now Available
Alycia Drwencke, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
SECOND ROUND OF CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR FARMS NOW AVAILABLE
USDA to Provide Additional Financial Assistance for Agricultural Businesses
By Alycia Drwencke, Dairy Management Specialist with the SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program
SOUTHWEST, NEW YORK (September 22, 2020) - The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program would like to highlight the USDA's Farm Service Agency's (FSA) recent opening of the second round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for agricultural businesses. If you are an agricultural producer whose operation has been affected by COVID-19, you are likely eligible for this second round of support. FSA is currently accepting applications from agricultural businesses for this support. For more information, or to apply, visit www.farmers.gov/cfap or contact your local FSA office which can be found on FSA.USDA.Gov.
Applications will be accepted from September 21, 2020 through December 11, 2020. Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2, or CFAP 2, will provide producers with financial assistance that gives them the ability to absorb some of the increased costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. CFAP 2 payments will be made for three categories of commodities - Price Trigger Commodities, Flat-Rate Crops, and Sales Commodities. A detailed list of eligible commodities can be found here (www.farmers.gov/cfap).
Farm Service Agency staff at local USDA Service Centers will work with producers to file CFAP 2 applications. For existing FSA customers, including those who participated in CFAP 1, many application documents will already be on file. Producers should check with their FSA county office to see if any of the forms need to be updated. Agricultural businesses interested in one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance at their call center.
Many farms in our region continue to deal with economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shifts in product demand, processing delays, and decreasing commodity prices have significantly affected farm profitability. For more information, contact your local FSA office. In the Southwest NY region, the county offices can be reached at: Allegany (585) 268-5133; Cattaraugus (716) 699-2375; Chautauqua (716) 664-2351; Erie (716) 652-1400; Steuben (607) 776-7398.
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Upcoming Events
Driving Efficiency in Dairy & Exploring the Irish Experience
September 29, 2025
Rock Stream, NY
This workshop series will feature in-depth presentation and discussion led by Dr. Padraig French who is the Head of Livestock Systems and the Dairy Enterprise Leader at Teagasc (the Irish version of USDA). Dr. French will focus on the critical success factors for Irish dairy, which include pasture utilization, labor efficiency and managing for seasonal calving. The discussion will focus on ways that U.S. dairy farmers can use some of the Irish dairy techniques to become more profitable with grass farming.
Open Forum to Discuss Newly Approved DOL Trade, "Butcher"
October 2, 2025 : Open Forum to Discuss Newly Approved DOL Trade, "Butcher"
Partners from New York State Dept. of Labor, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Southern Tier West, and Workforce Development will be in the space to provide an overview of the new program, discuss the roles of hosts and apprentices, review the benefits of hosting an apprentice, and setting the vision for building a corps of highly skilled, modern trained Butchers and validating this career as a skilled trade with respectful earning potential.
Silvopasture on a Shoestring
October 7, 2025
Franklinville, NY
Join Joshua Greene, Director of Education at Trees For Graziers, Jonathan Bates, Statewide Agroforestry Educator, and Lynn Bliven, owner of Wild Geese Farm for a full day training event that will include classroom and hands-on sessions. The focus will be on DIY silvopasture projects on small grazing farms. We will address the practical considerations of tree establishment, protection, and maintenance while learning how silvopasture can help address your farm's resource concerns and enhance livestock grazing.
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