[Archived] Nursery Crops and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP, provides vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline or who had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs. The application period for CFAP ended on September 11 for most producers. FSA accepted applications until October 9, 2020, for certain producers in Louisiana, Oregon, and Texas impacted by natural disasters. Learn more at farmers.gov/cfap1.

Nursery Crop and Cut Flower Eligibility

USDA announced on August 11 that nursery crops and cut flowers are eligible for CFAP. Specifically, 

• Nursery crops means decorative or non-decorative plants grown in a container or controlled environment for commercial sale.
• Cut flowers includes cut flowers and cut greenery from annual and perennial flowering plants grown in a container or controlled environment for commercial sale.  

Nursery crop and cut flower producers can begin submitting CFAP applications the week of August 17.

CFAP Payments for Nursery Crops and Cut Flowers

CFAP payments for nursery crops and cut flowers will be based on a percentage of the producer’s wholesale value of inventory. Payments will be the sum of CARES Act payments and CCC payments as follows:

1. CARES Act Payments: For nursery crop and cut flower inventory that was shipped but subsequently spoiled or is unpaid due to loss of marketing channels between January 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020, the wholesale value of the inventory that was shipped that spoiled or is unpaid, multiplied by 15.55 percent; and
2. CCC Payments: For nursery crop and cut flower inventory that did not leave the farm between January 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020, due to a complete loss of marketing channel, the wholesale value of the inventory ready for sale that did not leave the farm by April 15, 2020, and that will not be sold due to lack of markets, multiplied by 13.45 percent.  

Nursery crop and cut flower inventory that may be sold after April 15, 2020, is not eligible for CFAP.

Additional information for nursery crop and cut flower producers is available in our fact sheet, Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for Nursery Crops and Cut Flowers. This fact sheet is also available in Spanish and Puerto Rican Spanish.

Additional CFAP Information

Farm Service Agency staff at local USDA Service Centers will work with producers to file CFAP applications. 

Visit farmers.gov/cfap1 for additional information on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, other eligible commodities, CFAP eligibility, payment limitations and structure, and how to apply.