COVID relief and support programs available to farmers and ranchers

October 14, 2021 | Covid-19 Resources

American AgCredit stands ready to support our customers to help them weather this most challenging of storms.

American AgCredit, the USDA, and other federal entities, along with many state and local organizations, have stepped forward to support farmers and ranchers with a range of grants, loans, and other assistance programs. This page is intended to help our customers and other producers find programs that may be beneficial to their operations. Although the list is not exhaustive, we hope it can be a starting point as you research your options.

RELIEF PROGRAMS CUSTOMERS CAN APPLY FOR WITH AMERICAN AGCREDIT

COVID Loan Relief (Closed on February 15, 2021)

Offered by: American AgCredit

Available to: Existing qualified customers of American AgCredit

We made several loan relief and deferral programs available to our customers. This included options to defer all loan payments for 6 months or to pay interest only for 12 months. Leasing customers were eligible for payment deferrals. Additionally, expedited increases and renewals of lines of credit were available.

If you are an existing American AgCredit customer who is experiencing hardship related to the pandemic, please contact your relationship manager or call (800)800-4865 to discuss available options.

Paycheck Protection Program (Closed)

Offered by: Small Business Administration

Available to: Any organization, including agricultural entities, with 500 or fewer employees. Existing American AgCredit customers can apply with us.

The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with funds to help cover payroll costs and other expenses. If the funds are used only for eligible expenses, and at the required levels, the SBA may forgive the loan in its entirety.

For more information on this program, contact your relationship manager or visit our Paycheck Protection Program page.

OTHER FEDERAL AND NATIONAL PROGRAMS

Apply with the individual entity.

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) (Currently closed for applications)

Offered by: USDA

Available to: Commodities eligible for the current Coronavirus Food Assistance Program signup period include those that were originally eligible for CFAP 2 (farmers and ranchers who suffered at least a 5% decline in prices, or who had losses due to supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19, from mid-January to mid-April 2020) and commodities included in CFAP Additional Assistance. Learn more about eligible commodities here: https://www.farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance/cfap

USDA’s Farm Service Agency will offer multiple options for producers to apply for CFAP 2. Learn more about application options here: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap/apply

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance

Offered by: Small Business Administration

Available to: Businesses experiencing a loss in revenue related to COVID-19.

The EIDL program provides a loan advance of up to $10,000 to businesses that are experiencing a loss in revenue related to COVID-19. Learn more: www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/economic-injury-disaster-loan-emergency-advance.

Main Street Lending Program (Closed on January 8, 2021)

Offered by: Federal Reserve

Available to: Business owners with no more than 15,000 employees or less than $5 billion in annual revenue in 2019.

This program has allocated $600 billion to support small and medium-sized businesses by purchasing loans that banks give to these businesses. The program is intended to help companies that were in sound financial condition prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic maintain their operations and payroll until conditions normalize. Please note: Farm Credit entities are not currently approved as lenders in this program.

Learn more: https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/mainstreetlending.htm

Save Small Business Fund (No longer accepting applications)

Offered by: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Available to: Small businesses that employ 3-20 people, and are in an economically vulnerable community.

This program offers grants of up to $5,000 to help support small businesses. Your ZIP code will be used to determine if you are in an economically vulnerable community and therefore eligible. Learn more: https://savesmallbusiness.com/

Farmer Relief Fund (No longer available)

Offered by: American Farmland Trust

Available to: Farmers and Ranchers throughout the country

The Farmer Relief Fund provides grants of up to $1,000 to help farmers and ranchers weather the current storm of market disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis. Learn more: https://farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund/

* Funds are currently depleted. Check back on the Fund’s website as further funding is being sought.

Hello Alice COVID-19 Business Resource Center (Closed on September 25, 2020)

Offered by: Hello Alice, a platform for entrepreneurs

Available to: Small business owners

Hello Alice is offering $10,000 grants to small business owners impacted by coronavirus. In addition to funding, grant recipients will receive ongoing support from the Hello Alice community. Learn more: www.covid19businesscenter.com and apply here: www.businessforall.helloalice.com/signup

STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS

Apply with the individual entity.

California

Relief & Extension for Tax Returns

Offered by: State of California

Available to: California-based small business owners with less than $5 million in taxable annual sales.

Small business owners can take advantage of a 12 month, an interest-free payment plan for up to $50,000 of sales and use tax liability only. All payment plans must be paid in full by July 31, 2021, to qualify for zero interest.

Learn more: www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/covid19.htm

Main Street Small Business Tax Credit (Closed on January 15, 2021)

Offered by: Small business hiring credit – Senate bill 1447

Available to: Qualified small businesses for the economic disruptions in 2020 that have resulted in unprecedented job losses.

Learn more: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/business/credits/small-business-hiring-credit.html

California Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant Program (Closed on January 13, 2021)

Offered by: California Relief Grant

Available to: Eligible small businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19 and the health and safety restrictions.

The amount of grant funding ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. Businesses are eligible based on their annual revenue as documented in their most recent tax return.

Learn more: https://careliefgrant.com/

California Rebuilding Fund

Offered by: California Rebuilding Fund

Available to: Businesses who employed 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) and had gross revenues of less than $2.5 million or below in 2019 are eligible to apply.

The California Rebuilding Fund is a loan program to support California’s small businesses—especially those located in economically disadvantaged and historically under-banked areas of the state.

Learn more: https://www.connect2capital.com/p/californiarebuildingfund/

California FarmLink Emergency Loans

Offered by: California FarmLink

Available to: California farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19

COVID-19 Emergency Loans of up to $20,000 with 0% interest and no payment required for the first 6 months. Learn more: www.californiafarmlink.org/loans/loan-types-and-terms

The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund (Open until November 5, 2021)

Offered by: California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)

Available to: Organic operations in California that experienced economic hardship during the pandemic

This CCOF fund is the only fund in the nation that provides direct financial assistance exclusively to organic producers who suffer financial losses due to extreme hardship. Learn more: www.ccof.org/ccof-foundation/bricmont-hardship-assistance-fund

Santa Rosa Metro Chamber of Commerce Emergency Grant *

Offered by: Santa Rosa Metro Chamber of Commerce

Available to: Small businesses with less than 20 employees in Sonoma County, CA

Santa Rosa Metro Chamber of Commerce is distributing emergency grants up to $2,000 for small businesses throughout Sonoma County, regardless of their affiliation with the Chamber or of citizenship. Learn more: www.santarosametrochamber.com/news/2020/04/13/coronavirus/small-business-emergency-grants-available-now

*Funds are currently depleted. Check back on the Chamber of Commerce website as further funding is being sought.

Family Farmer Emergency Fund (Closed September 1, 2021 - Check website for more updates)

Offered by: California Alliance of Family Farmers (CAFF)

Available to: California farms that make $10,000 – $400,000 in gross sales annually.

The California Family Farmer Emergency Fund will directly support family farmers with grants from $1,000 to $5,000, with half of the funds reserved for farmers of color and those from immigrant communities. Learn more: www.caff.org/cafamilyfarmeremergencyfund/

Sonoma County Small Business Stabilization Grant Program (Application window is closed)

Offered by: Sonoma County Economic Development Board and Board of Supervisors

Available to: California businesses, located in the Bay Area, operated or owned by historically underserved populations; those that were forced to close or limit business as a result of COVID-19 health orders; and those that have not previously received federal COVID-19 relief funding.

The Sonoma County Small Business Stabilization Grant Program will provide grants ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 to local small businesses.
Learn More: https://www.workingsolutions.org/sonoma-grants

Agricultural Support and Protection (ASAP) Emergency Matching Grant Program (Sonoma County) (Closed on November 15, 2020)

Offered by: Sonoma County Ag + Open Space

Available to: Sonoma County farmers and ranchers. Public agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofits and other agricultural associations.

The ASAP Program will support farmers and ranchers who can demonstrate that financial assistance is needed to prevent the lands they farm from going fallow or being devoted to non-agricultural uses as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Link: https://www.sonomaopenspace.org/asap/

Colorado

Colorado Hunger Relief Fund (Closed on January 15, 2021)

Offered by: The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger

Available to: Colorado farmers and ranchers, among others

The COVID-19 Emergency Hunger Relief Fund (Fund) is a response to urgent food access and nutritional needs that are emerging in our communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding may be used to cover operating funds, including food, staff, packaging, safety supplies, food storage and transportation equipment, client communications, etc. Grants will be available for up to $25,000 with some geographic prioritization based on community needs. Learn more: www.endhungerco.org/colorado-covid-hunger-relief-fund

Hawaii

Emergency Agricultural Loan Program (Closed on December 31, 2020)

Offered by: Hawaii Board of Agriculture
Available to: Hawaii agribusinesses impacted by COVID-19

The Emergency Agricultural Loan program offers loans for agribusinesses in Hawaii that have been impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. Learn more: hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr2-04emergency-loan-program-approved/

Kansas

COVID-19 Farmer Resilience Initiative Grant *

Offered by: Farm Aid

Available to: Kansas and Missouri farmers experiencing economic hardship as a result of the pandemic

Emergency relief grants to help farmers meet household expenses. Families who rely on farming for their income, live in Kansas or Missouri, and are experiencing hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are encouraged to complete an application. Learn more and apply: www.kansasfarmersunion.com/apply

* The original deadline to apply was June 15, 2020. The application process may reopen if funding remains following the June grant review meeting. Check back on the Resilience Initiative Grant website for updates.

Nevada

At this time, we are not aware of any programs with funds remaining that are available to farmers and ranchers in Nevada.

additional programs and resources

Farm Stress Training

Offered by: Farm Credit, Michigan State University Extension and other partners

Available to: Farmers, ranchers and rural residents

This is a free, online training program developed by Farm Credit, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, Michigan State University Extension and University of Illinois Extension. The training aims to help individuals understand sources of stress, learn the warning signs of stress and suicide, identify effective communication strategies, reduce stigma related to mental health and connect people to resources. Learn more and register: https://farmcredit.com/rural-resilience

Kansas Ag Stress

Offered by: Kansas Department of Agriculture and partners

Available to: Kansas farmers and ranchers

Mental health is always important but especially during times of economic and social stress. Kansas Ag Stress Resources provides information, support and ways to connect with professionals when needed. Learn more: https://www.kansasagstress.org/

Ag Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan

Offered by: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Available to: All agricultural employers

The CDC published an Agricultural Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan for applying specific preparation, prevention, and management measures. The checklist can be used to reassess, update, and modify current assessment and control plans on a regular basis or as conditions change. Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/pdf/Agricultural-Employer-checklist.pdf

American AgCredit is providing this information for awareness purposes only. We do not endorse any program nor make representations regarding the relevance of any program to our customers’ operations.

COVID relief and support programs available to farmers and ranchers

RELIEF PROGRAMS CUSTOMERS CAN APPLY FOR WITH AMERICAN AGCREDIT

COVID Loan Relief (Closed on February 15, 2021)