More than $61 million in direct payments have been approved for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program as of Monday, June 8, according to a recent USDA report.
Nearly 7,500 Oklahoma producers have applied for direct payments as of June 8, while $61,232,667.97 in payments have been approved. Livestock producers comprise nearly 95% of Oklahoma’s approved CFAP payments.
Created through the Coronavirus Assistance, Relief and Economic Security Act and coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, CFAP direct payments are designed to provide relief to eligible farmers and ranchers facing financial losses due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible farmers and ranchers may apply for CFAP direct payments through county USDA Farm Service Agency offices until Aug. 28, 2020. More information on the CFAP program and the application process may be found at farmers.gov/cfap.
Hard red winter wheat producers were excluded from the CFAP program, along with some cattle producers who held on to their animals due to market conditions. The American Farm Bureau Federation has called on lawmakers to expand CFAP payments as Congress considers another coronavirus aid package this summer. The organization also outlined the additional needs of agriculture and rural America in a letter to congressional leaders this week.
CFAP payment data will be updated and released by the USDA each Monday at 2 p.m. at farmers.gov/cfap.
