MADISON, WI (SPECTRUM NEWS) — Farmers in Wisconsin have been approved for more than $425.8 million in direct coronavirus relief payments from state and federal aid programs.

The bulk of those payments have come from federal dollars. The United States Department of Agriculture Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) has approved $384.2 million in payments to 14,861 farmers in the state as of July 27. That's according to an open letter from Sandy Chalmers, Wisconsin's USDA Farm Service Agency State Executive Director: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/07/28/chalmers-with-an-update-on-covid-assistance/

Chalmers wrote that numbers indicate that several eligible farmers have not applied for the aid yet. They can do so until August 28.

“Farmers and ranchers continue to be the backbone of our nation. I know Wisconsin’s agricultural producers are facing unprecedented challenges with the coronavirus pandemic, and I want to make sure we at USDA are doing all we can to provide critical support,” Chalmers wrote.

People can go to farmers.gov/cfap or call 877-508-8364 to learn about eligibility and options to apply.

The state of Wisconsin's direct payment program — the Wisconsin Farm Support Program— have paid $41.6 million to nearly 12,000 farmers so far. Each recipient gets a payment of $3,500.

The money is allocated from federal dollars provided to the state of Wisconsin from the CARES Act. Governor Tony Evers allocated $50 million of that to the direct farm payment program. The state plans on opening applications back up between August 10 and 24 to distribute the remaining $8.4 million.

The second round of applications will be opened to a larger pool of farmers, it will now be available for farmers with a gross income of $10,000 to $5 million in 2019.

“This gave us an opportunity to expand the eligibility pool and get the funding out to additional farmers,” said Randy Romanski, DATCP Secretary Designee.

Farmers can't apply in the second round of the Wisconsin Farm Support Program if they received a payment in the first round. Applicants can learn more online: https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/TaxPro/2020/FarmSupportProgram.aspx

Romanski said the state payments are intended to be a bridge to federal payments and help farmers struggling with pandemic-related financial issues.

“This can help pay a few bills, maybe it helps with some electricity costs, maybe it helps with some vet bills, what we heard from farmers is that this is helping them pay some bills during these really challenging times,” Romanski said.

Food Banks and other eligible nonprofits can apply for state grants until 5 p.m. On July 29 to pay for and distribute Wisconsin agriculture products.

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Food Security and Wisconsin Products Grants are prepared to award about $15 million to Food banks and other nonprofits. $5 million will be rewarded after the first phase, which closed last week. Another $10 million will be rewarded after the next deadline.

The application period was extended to July 29^th on July 14^th. Applications can be completed online at FoodSecurity.wi.gov.

The USDA announced a similar federal program will open for a third round of applications from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31. The USDA Farm to Families Food Box Program seeks to buy agriculture products that are in danger of going to waste from pandemic-related supply chain issues and get them to people struggling with food security.

So far $46 million has been spent around the country with the program. The USDA said the third phase will include up to $3 billion in purchases. So far, Wisconsin organizations have received $5,866,630 from the program.