Farmers, ranchers can apply for second stimulus package

Oklahoma farmers have another shot at stimulus money from the U.S.D.A., but farmers need to act quickly to qualify.

“This is certainly not a program that’s going to get any farmers rich or anything like that but it’s a lifeline,” according to Rodd Moesel, the President of The Oklahoma Farm Bureau, “it’s just trying to keep many of our small and medium farmers alive for better times that we hope are ahead.”

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2020 hasn’t been very friendly to farmers and ranchers, and the first round of stimulus, known as the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 1, wasn’t available to Red Winter Wheat Farmers, which is popularly grown in Oklahoma.

As of Monday, those wheat farmers, along with others are eligible for the second round of help.

Scott Biggs, the Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency said CFAP2 has already been a success. “We have seen tremendous interest from both livestock as well as wheat producers,” he said.

Farmers who would like to take advantage of the program are urged to apply online or visit their local Farm Service Agency office as soon as possible.

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“We have fourteen billion dollars, so this is a program, we are not worried about running out of funds, but I do stress that you know, we do need to pay attention to those deadlines and make sure I get as many people signed up by December 11 as possible,” said Biggs.

Wheat farmers could get up to $15 an acre up to $250,000.