USDA Temporarily Halts CFAP Payments

Late Wednesday, USDA announced it’s temporarily freezing processing payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Local FSA offices will continue accepting applications during what’s being called an “evaluation period” as agency and administration officials reassess new COVID-19 relief to ag producers, including ways to distribute support through “access to the capital, risk management tools, disaster assistance and other federal resources,” according to USDA’s notice released Wednesday. The news comes after a January 15 announcement that expanded CFAP payments would expand to include contract pork and poultry producers. No timeline was given for the temporary freeze. See more on this developing story.