This is a reminder that Michigan’s Floriculture and Nursery Crop Producers* affected by the coronavirus pandemic are eligible for direct payments through the USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2, or CFAP 2.
*Floriculture eligible for CFAP 2 includes cut flowers and cut greenery from annual and perennial flowering plants grown in a container or controlled environment for commercial sale. Nursery crops eligible for CFAP 2 include decorative or non-decorative plants grown in a container or controlled environment for commercial sale. Christmas trees are also eligible for CFAP 2. Visit farmers.gov/cfap/nursery for more information on CFAP 2 eligibility and payment details related to floriculture and nursery crops, including cactus and Christmas trees.
USDA will accept applications through December 11, 2020. Please note: USDA recently made the decision that soils and tags could be factored into the sales cost for greenhouse plants and are NOT considered “value-added”. Pots are different in that they can be considered but “decorative” pots can’t be factored in and instead only basic pot costs.
We are recommending that all of our Nursery and Greenhouse firms check into this program to see if you qualify for a direct payment. It is our understanding that the application process is fairly easy with assistance through the process available from your local county Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff.
More specific nursery and floriculture information can be found here. For additional CFAP 2 information and how to apply visit CFAP 2.0 FAQ.