As of June 29, the Farm Service Agency has processed $4.857 billion in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program payments to 319,544 producers.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act provided $9.5 billion in funding for producer relief. In addition, $6.5 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation was leveraged to provide additional funding.
More than 50% of the funding, $2.4 billion, has been paid to livestock producers; $1.3 billion, or 26%, has been paid to non-specialty crop producers; $1 billion, or 22%, has been paid to dairy producers and $113 million, or 2%, has been paid to specialty crop producers.
CFAP payments by state
The majority of payments have gone to Midwest producers. Iowa leads the nation with more than $500 million in CFAP support, followed by Nebraska at $345 million, Michigan at $324 million and Minnesota at $310 million. Ten states have received $2.9 billion, or nearly 60% of total CFAP payments made to date.
CFAP livestock payments
Through the first four weeks of CFAP payments, livestock producers have received $2.4 billion, or more than 50% of total payments. Payments to livestock producers are highest in the Midwest and across portions of the Southwest, where cattle feeding and hog operations are concentrated. Iowa leads the nation in livestock payments at $251 million, followed by Nebraska at $202 million, Texas at $185 million, Kansas at $181 million and South Dakota at $179 million.
While the total CFAP payments are concentrated in the Midwest and Southwest, the average CFAP payment per application is the highest in Western states at $22,000 per application in Nevada, followed by $21,000 per application in California. The average payment across the U.S. is $10,206 per application.
CFAP payments for non-specialty crops
Non-specialty crop producers have received $1.3 billion, or 26%, of the $4.9 billion in CFAP payments made through June 29. Payments to non-specialty crop producers are highest in the Midwest, with Iowa leading the nation at $231 million, followed by Illinois at $149 million, Nebraska at $137 million and Indiana at $69 million.
While total CFAP payments are highest in the Midwest, the average CFAP payment per application is the highest in several Southeastern states and Arizona. Mississippi has an average CFAP payment of $22,000 per application, followed by Arizona at $16,000. Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina all have average CFAP payments of more than $10,000 per application. The average payment across the U.S. is $7,189 per application.
CFAP dairy payments
Dairy producers have received slightly more than $1 billion, or 22% of total CFAP direct payments. Payments to dairy producers align with the traditional milksheds, with Wisconsin the highest at $224 million, followed by California at $141 million. New York has the third highest at $111 million. Many Southeastern states have received less than $10 million in CFAP dairy support.
Compared to livestock, non-specialty crop and specialty crop producers, the average CFAP payment of $59,250 per dairy producer application is significantly higher. CFAP payments per application for dairy producers are the highest in Western states, where dairy operations tend to be the largest. New Mexico has an average CFAP payment of $250,000, followed by Nevada at $202,000 and Arizona at $202,000. Wisconsin, the nation’s second-largest milk producing state has an average CFAP payment of $79,000 per application.
CFAP specialty crop payments
At $113 million, CFAP payments made to specialty crop producers are significantly behind payments made to livestock and non-specialty crop producers. Payments to producers of specialty crops are the highest in California and Florida, followed by several Southwestern states, Georgia, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York. Total payments are the highest in California at $44 million followed by Florida at $30 million.
While total CFAP payments are highest in California and Florida, the average CFAP payment per application is the highest in Arizona at $170,000 per application, followed by Montana at $158,000 per application and Florida at $156,000 per application. The average payment across the U.S. is $36,140 per application.
Farmers and ranchers have until Aug. 28 to complete their CFAP application.