Of the CARES Act Funds, $26 million were recently awarded to assist Alabama agriculture impacted by COVID-19, and the funding for the various programs is being funneled through the Alabama Agricultural Stabilization Program (AASP).
Of the seven programs being funded, the application deadline for three programs is today, September 15. This includes meat processors, fruit and vegetable processors and catfish processors.
But applications open today for nursery growers and the state CFAP supplemental program. Also, $1 million is being allotted to reimburse licensed nursery growers for purchases of PPE, disinfectants, workstation dividers, COVID-19 testing for employees, etc., to combat COVID-19 made between March 13, 2020 and July 31, 2020. This program will not apply for nursery growers that are compensated through the State Supplemental CFAP Program for their nursery losses. For the Alabama State Supplemental CFAP Grant Program, $8 million is being used for a state supplemental payment to producers that qualified for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The exact percentage to be used for the state payment will be determined after all state supplemental CFAP applications have been received and USDA’s CFAP data is finalized.
Signup for cattle producers started last week and runs until October 9, where $10.5 million is available for feeder and fed cattle sold between April 16, 2020 and May 15, 2020, and dairy producers that qualified for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
Signup for the program covering poultry farmers begins October 1, where $4 million has been allotted for to assist poultry farmers that have experienced an extended downtime, longer than 21 days, between flocks and have not been otherwise compensated.
For more information about the AASP, go to www.agi.alabama.gov.