Farmer aid program will help many, but is designed to help largest farmers most

ANNA JOHNSON

Policy Manager, Center for Rural Affairs

In approving a $9.5 billion agriculture relief package in March, Congress asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use the funds to support producers, including livestock, specialty crops and local food producers.

However, USDA’s new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) includes multiple provisions designed to allow the largest producers to side-step normal payment limitations and provides almost no support for small producers selling to local markets.

First, CFAP allows operations structured as corporations, limited liability comp...