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.  

Part of Bullitt County Extension’s special efforts to help farmers cope with Covid-19 issues included four newsletters (audiences of about 870). The first and second newsletters that went out in April and May featured Covid-19 guidelines for Extension Office operating adjustments for Covid-19, talking points on the security of the U.S. meat supply, Farmer Relief Fund, food safety, information on how Covid-19 had adversely affected grain and livestock prices, and webinar series from the Animal Science specialists at the University of Kentucky.

The third and fourth newsletters that went out in June and July, 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 eligible commodities and explained how those commodities qualified for payments. It also detailed the process for applying for funds and informed farmers we had printed out applications at the Bullitt County Extension Office.

It is impossible to know the full benefits of these educational efforts since the CFAP is not complete. Bullitt County Extension saw an opportunity to help farmers learn about the program. Our Extension Office was able to inform over 900 people about CFAP and explain to them that CFAP payments were available for certain commodities. Bullitt County farmers have had a difficult year thus far, and things look discouraging for the rest of 2020.  Especially being a suburban area, we want to help preserve all the farms we have left in Bullitt County. Extension is proud to be able to assist them in filing for their CFAP money.