The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency recently announced the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The funding was made possible by USDA’s new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, an effort to distribute resources more broadly and to put greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers impacted by the pandemic.

FSA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) signup is also open as part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Farmers and ranchers will have at least 60 days from April 5 to apply or make modifications to existing CFAP 2 applications.