By Mary Hightower
Arkansas farmers and ranchers have received more than $138.5 million under the first round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance program, or CFAP.
The aid was in response to the 18,446 applications filed from Arkansas to the U.S. Department of Agriculture received through Sept. 20.
“Payments to livestock producers account for 69 percent of the approved first-round CFAP applications in Arkansas,” said Scott Stiles, extension economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Non-specialty crops — which include corn, cotton, soybean and sorghum — accounted for nearly 27 percent of the total.”
During the first round, rice, soft red winter wheat and peanuts were excluded. They are now included in the second round of CFAP, the application period for which opened Sept. 21.
The remaining portion of those first-round payments in Arkansas were divided among specialty crops, which received 2.6 percent, dairy receiving 0.7 percent and aquaculture-nursery-floriculture receiving 0.8 percent.
“Sweet potatoes and pecans account for 99 percent, or $3,524,323, of Arkansas’ specialty crop payments,” Stiles said. “Catfish accounts for 65 percent, or $753,330, of the aqua-nursery-flora category payments.”
In the second round of CFAP, USDA is making available another $14 billion to eligible farmers. Signup for the second round program runs through Dec. 11.
Source : uaex.edu