BFN wants to keep you in the know about resources that can help you and your farm during COVID-19. As relevant information becomes available, the network will continue to update farmers, ranchers and rural communities about financial assistance and additional support. Make sure to always check back with the network as this list will update periodically.
APPLY:
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education: Southern SARE’s new leadership program is designed to help fund historically underserved farmers, ranchers and non-governmental organizations working in sustainable agriculture. The program provides up to $3,000 to community leaders in agriculture who need additional resources to support education and training events in their area. Funded activities must complete by Jan. 31, 2021.
LISTEN:
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Understand what the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new program, Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), does to assist ranchers, farmers and consumers in response to this national emergency. This $19 million immediate relief program provides support to the ones who maintain America’s food supply chain. Listen to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue talk about challenges of COVID-19 to the economy’s food supply chain and how CFAP will help with farmer and rancher losses. Click here for more federal rural resources from USDA.
WATCH:
Congressional Black Caucus: Tune in as Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, discusses the impact of global pandemic COVID-19 on minority communities. Dr. Uche Blackstock, founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, joins her for this virtual conversation hosted by Politico.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Learn how COVID-19 is actually spread. CDC breaks down how the disease moves from person to person, surfaces and objects. This page also provides a self-check video in American Sign Language to help explain the virus and how it spreads easily.
Experian: Swipe through the latest advice and updates from this consumer credit reporting company. In fact, Experian now offers free weekly credit reports to all Americans for the next year. For expert conversations and insights about credit trends and macroeconomic scenario forecasting, sign up for webinars that can help with building brand-new business strategies during COVID-19.
FamilyFarmed: See exactly how you can plan for a safe farming experience for you and your customers. Family Farmed shares the proper steps to take to handle food on paper. Learn how to create a written-form safety plan through this technical assistance program’s forms, templates and resources.
UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences: Keep safety at the forefront of your farm to market operation. This page features videos, forms, fact sheets and free online courses. Small farms are able to stay in the know about the best safety measures to take from personal hygiene to transporting and handling food at local farmers markets.
4. READ:
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program: To support producers, the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program was created to provide direct relief to farmers and ranchers impacted by the global pandemic. Eligible commodities include speciality and non-speciality crops, wool, dairy, livestock. USDA is accepting applications through Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. Producers should apply through the Farm Service Agency at their local USDA Service Center. Click the above link for more details.
Environmental Protection Agency: Know the most up-to-date information about cleaning and disinfecting. EPA provides links to a list of disinfectants. This page posts important materials for local, state and tribal agencies and associations; grants and financial assistance agreements; and virtual public meeting announcements, too.
Farm Aid: Browse through articles and information from this nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on the land. This page outlines “Frequently Asked Questions” from the USDA to financial assistance and food safety measures to take. It provides new marketing and distribution options to consider as well.
Farmers Legal Action Group: Read this law center’s educational tool, “Farmers’ Guide to COVID-19 Relief,” to gain general legal information during the global health crisis. FLAG’s update shares program additions and changes. Many of the programs covered in this guide are products of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, better known as the CARES Act.
National Farmers Union: Access press releases, fact sheets and congressional resources as part of the $2 trillion in aid that has been approved. Read how the stimulus is broken down for rural health and agricultural assistance. Also, know the best practices, guides and precautions family farmers and rural communities should take during the pandemic.
National Cooperative Business Association: Check out this resource site, which reports about the U.S. Small Business Administration eliminating a regulation that blocked food cooperatives from accessing lending programs for more than 50 years. Stay on top of how federal funding is now helping small businesses battle COVID-19 through these new programs.
Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production: This new office through the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a few competitive grants focused on original, farming projects. These million-dollar grant opportunities are open until Monday, July 6. A webinar overview of the grants will take place Wednesday, June 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, click here.
The National Agricultural Law Center: Search this resource library for its extensive Q&A page connected to the crisis. The center is the only agricultural law research and information group that is independent, national in scope and directly connected to the national agricultural information network. Topics covered on this page include: economic stimulus, labor and employment, contracts, legal assistance, estate planning, specialty crops and direct marketing.
