Covid-19 changed nearly everything in the United States in the spring of 2020.  It closed many businesses, most schools and churches, eliminated most travel, and turned many Americans into virtual hermits.  It also affected agriculture, with some of the most significant effects falling on livestock producers as farm-gate prices declined due to the closure of many of the large beef and pork processing plants.  Prices of other commodities such as corn, soybeans, and produce were also depressed by the virus.  Farmers who make use of H2-A migrant workers on their grain, tobacco, and/or produce farms also experienced hardships due to difficulties in getting their workers into the country this spring.

Todd County Extension’s special efforts to help farmers cope with Covid-19 issues included two newsletters (audiences of about 460) and a special letter to beef cattle producers (155 farmers).  The first newsletter went out in April.  It included information on how the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) (part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)) might be useful in helping some farmers meet their payroll expenses.  Also in this newsletter were Covid-19 guidelines for farmers with H-2A workers, Extension Office operating adjustments for Covid-19, talking points on the security of the U.S. meat supply, potential payments for livestock producers that were included in the CARES Act, and information on how Covid-19 had adversely affected grain and livestock prices.

The second newsletter went out in late May, and it focused on helping farmers file for USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) funds.  This program was authorized under the CARES Act and utilizes CARES funds and USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to help make up for farmers’ financial losses from reduced commodity sales prices, and reductions in the value of inventories due to Covid-19.  This newsletter outlined the five groups of eligible commodities and explained how those commodities qualified for payments.  It also detailed the process for applying for funds and included a printed copy of the USDA AD-3114 application (since many farmers here do not have reliable internet access and could not download the application).

The most recent mailout was directed to beef cattle producers.  I had been contacted by some of them who said they didn’t understand how to fill out the AD-3114 as it pertained to beef cattle.  The confusing issue was that in its “Livestock and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program” publication, USDA listed 27 common “names” or types of cattle; but when the AD-3114 application is filled out, all cattle must fit into one of five CFAP categories.  The goal was to help producers know how to fit their cattle (ones sold during the “Covid-19” sales window, or those in inventory during the “Covid-19” inventory window) onto the CFAP application.

It is impossible to know the full benefits of these educational efforts.  Since our local FSA Office has no money available to advertise or send educational information to producers about the CFAP program, Todd County Extension saw an opportunity to help farmers learn about the program.  Extension was able to put CFAP applications into nearly 500 producers’ hands and explain to them that CFAP payments were available for certain commodities.  Grant Hildebrand, the County Executive Director (CED) at the Todd County FSA Office, said that numerous farmers have brought CFAP applications into his office, saying that “Curt Judy up at the Extension Office sent me to apply for the Covid money.”  Todd County farmers have had a difficult year thus far, and things look discouraging for the rest of 2020.  Producers need all the financial help they can get this year; and Extension is proud to be able to assist them in filing for their CFAP money, and in helping them navigate and survive this uniquely turbulent period.