Tangerines are now eligible for a Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)Direct Payment under Category 1. USDA has determined that tangerines had a 5 percent or greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, tangerines were only eligible for a payment under Categories 2 and 3.
The revised payment rates for tangerines are as follows:
| Commodity | CATEGORY 1
CARES Act Payment Rate for Sales Losses ($/lb) |
CATEGORY 2
CARES Act Payment Rate for Product that left the farm but spoiled or is unpaid due to loss of marketing channel ($/lb) |
CATEGORY 3
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Payment Rate ($/lb) |
| Tangerines | 0.05 | 0.25 | 0.05 |
CCM staff is seeking clarification from USDA on which citrus varieties are considered to be a tangerine for direct payment purposes. Producers who intend to apply for a CFAP direct payment are encouraged to consult with their local FSA Service Center.
CFAP Resources
Producers have several options for applying to the CFAP program:
- Using an online portal, accessible at farmers.gov/cfap, allows producers with secure USDA login credentials—known as eAuthentication—to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center. New commodities will be available in the system on July 13, 2020.
- Completing the application form using our CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator found at farmers.gov/cfap. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center. An updated version with the new commodities will be available on the website on July 13, 2020.
- Downloading the AD-3114 application form from farmers.gov/cfap and manually completing the form to submit to the local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to an office drop box. In some limited cases, the office may be open for in-person business by appointment. Visit farmers.gov/coronavirus/service-center-status to check the status of your local office.
New customers seeking one-on-one support with the CFAP application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer general assistance. This is a recommended first step before a producer engages the team at the FSA county office at their local USDA Service Center.
All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap. For existing FSA customers, these documents are likely already on file.
