Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $26 Million of CARES Act Funds to assist Alabama Agriculture impacted by COVID-19. Funding will be used to establish the Alabama Agricultural Stabilization Program (AASP). No funds may be utilized for salaries, building projects, or capital improvements.

[su_spacer]

– There are 7 programs with the AASP

[su_spacer]

  1. Direct Payment Business Stabilization Grants to Cattle Producers – $10.5 million for feeder and fed cattle sold between April 16, 2020 and May 15, 2020, and dairy producers that qualified for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
  2. Meat Processing Plant Reimbursement Program – $1.5 million for reimbursements of up to $50,000 for existing processors to expand capacity to meet increased demand caused by COVID-19. To be eligible, an applicant must be a T/A, State, or Custom Exempt plant that slaughters and processes and is currently inspected by ADAI.
  3. Poultry Farmer Stabilization Grant Program – $4 million to assist poultry farmers that have experienced an extended downtime (longer than 21 days) between flocks and have not been otherwise compensated.
  4. Catfish Processor Reimbursement Program – $500,000 to reimburse catfish processing plants for purchases of PPE, disinfectants, workstation dividers, COVID-19 testing for employees, etc. to combat COVID-19 made between March 13, 2020 and July 31, 2020.
  5. Fruit & Vegetable Processor Reimbursement Program – $500,000 to reimburse fruit and vegetable processing plants for purchases of PPE, disinfectants, workstation dividers, COVID-19 testing for employees, etc. to combat COVID-19 made between March 13, 2020 and July 31, 2020. Funds may also be used to reimburse the processors for the purchase of equipment such as washing stations, flash freezers, and packaging equipment to expand production to meet increased demand caused by COVID-19.
  6. State Supplemental CFAP Grant Program – $8 million for a state supplemental payment to producers that qualified for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).The exact percentage to be used for the state payment will be determined after all state supplemental CFAP applications have been received and USDA’s CFAP data is finalized.
  7. Nursery Grower Reimbursement Program – $1 million to reimburse licensed nursery growers for purchases of PPE, disinfectants, workstation dividers, COVID-19 testing for employees, etc. to combat COVID-19 made between March 13, 2020 and July 31, 2020. This program will not apply for nursery growers that are compensated through the State Supplemental CFAP Program for their nursery losses.

[su_spacer]

  • Applications for some categories are available beginning August 24th.

 

  • Detailed Application information is listed in the chart below –

[su_spacer]

Meat Processors $1.5 Million August 24th September 15th Contact:
Lynn.Blue@agi.alabama.gov
Catfish Processors $500,000 August 24th September 15th Contact: Patrick.Moody@agi.alabama.gov
Fruit & Vegetable Processors $500,000

######

August 24th September 15th Contact:
Don.Wambles@agi.alabama.gov
Cattle Producers $10.5 Million September 8th October 9th Application available on-line Sept. 8th at www.agi.alabama.gov
Nursery Growers $1.0 Million September 15th October 15th Application available on-line Sept. 15th at www.agi.alabama.gov
State CFAP $8.0 Million September 15th October 15th Application available on-line Sept. 15th at www.agi.alabama.gov
Supplemental Program
Poultry Farmers $4.0 Million October 1st October 31st Application available on-line
Oct. 1st at www.agi.alabama.gov

[su_spacer]

AASP website – http://agi.alabama.gov/home#:~:text=Alabama%20Agricultural%20Stabilization%20Program&text=Kay%20Ivey%20has%20awarded%20%2426,building%20projects%2C%20or%20capital%20improvements.