Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) started Monday and runs through December 11.
USDA expects that when payment limits are taken into account, payouts under the $14 billion program should total $13.2 billion. USDA is expected to release a payment calculator soon that would help producers figure their benefits under the program.
But the program enrollment began as Congress continues to work on a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through December 11. Included in an agreement reached between Republicans and Democrats in the House Friday was a replenishment of the borrowing authority for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
In exchange for supporting the CCC replenishment, there was agreement to continue a nutrition program created during the pandemic to provide school lunches to children. However, as of Monday, the CCC and school lunch provisions were stricken from the bill.