USDA News Release

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers disaster assistance and low-interest loan programs to assist agricultural producers in their recovery efforts following wildfires or other qualifying natural disasters.

Available programs and loans include:

• Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) – provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters including excessive wind and qualifying drought (includes native grass for grazing). Eligible producers must have purchased NAP coverage for 2017 crops. A notice of loss must be filed within 15 calendar days of when the loss is apparent or 15 calendar days after the normal harvest date.
• Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) – offers payments to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather. Eligible losses may include those determined by FSA to have been caused by wildfires, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, tropical storms, tornados, lightning, extreme heat, and extreme cold. Producers will be required to provide verifiable documentation of death losses resulting from an eligible adverse weather event and must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent.
• Tree Assistance Program (TAP) – provides assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers for qualifying tree, shrub and vine losses due to natural disasters including excessive wind and qualifying drought.

• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) – provides emergency relief for losses due to feed or water shortages, disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, which are not adequately addressed by other disaster programs. ELAP covers physically damaged or destroyed livestock feed that was purchased or mechanically harvested forage or feedstuffs intended for use as feed for the producer’s eligible livestock. In order to be considered eligible, harvested forage must be baled; forage that is only cut, raked or windrowed is not eligible. ELAP also covers up to 150 lost grazing days in instances when a producer has been forced to remove livestock from a grazing pasture due to wildfire and for beekeepers, ELAP covers beehive losses (the physical structure) in instances where the hive has been destroyed by a natural disaster including flooding, high winds and tornadoes. Producers must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent.
• Emergency Loan Program – available to producers with agriculture operations located in a county under a primary or contiguous Presidential or Secretarial disaster designation. These low interest loans help producers recover from production and physical losses.
• Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) – provides emergency funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate land severely damaged by natural disasters; includes fence loss.
• HayNet – is an Internet-based Hay and Grazing Net Ad Service allowing farmers and ranchers to share ‘Need Hay’ ads and ‘Have Hay’ ads online. Farmers also can use another feature to post advertisements for grazing land, specifically ads announcing the availability of grazing land or ads requesting a need for land to graze.

For more information on these programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/disaster or contact your local FSA office.

How to Document Wildfire Losses

Producers who suffered excessive livestock death losses and grazing or feed losses due to recent wildfires may be eligible for disaster assistance programs through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).

The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) offers payments to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)provides emergency relief for losses due to feed or water shortages, disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, which are not adequately addressed by other disaster programs.

To participate in LIP, producers will be required to provide verifiable documentation of death losses resulting from an eligible adverse weather event and must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent. To participate in ELAP, producers must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent and should maintain documentation and receipts.

Producers should record all pertinent information regarding livestock losses due to the eligible adverse weather or loss condition, including:

• Documentation of the number, kind, type, and weight range of livestock that have died, supplemented if possible by photographs or video records of ownership and losses;
• Rendering truck receipts by kind, type and weight – important to document prior to disposal;
• Beginning inventory supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts;
• Documentation from Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Natural Resources, or other sources to substantiate eligible death losses due to an eligible loss condition;
• Documentation that livestock were removed from grazing pastures due to an eligible adverse weather or loss condition;
• Costs of transporting livestock feed to eligible livestock, such as receipts for equipment rental fees for hay lifts and snow removal;
• Feed purchase receipts if feed supplies or grazing pastures are destroyed;
• Number of gallons of water transported to livestock due to water shortages.

For more information on these programs and documentation requirements, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/disaster or contact your local FSA office.

From a Cal-OSHA news release

Cal/OSHA is reminding employers that California’s protection from wildfire smoke standard is still in effect, and they must take steps to protect their workers from harmful exposure to unhealthy air due to wildfire smoke.

“Employers are obligated to protect their outdoor workers and must evaluate the health hazards posed by wildfire smoke,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Doug Parker. “If employers cannot move operations indoors where air is adequately filtered and they do not have access to respiratory protection, they may need to halt operations until the outdoor air quality improves.”

Smoke from wildfires contains chemicals, gases and fine particles that can harm health. The greatest hazard comes from breathing fine particles in the air (called PM2.5), which can reduce lung function, worsen asthma or other existing heart and lung conditions, and cause coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. These types of respiratory conditions also make the effects of COVID-19 more severe.

If employers move operations indoors or into enclosed spaces, they should be sure to follow guidelines for prevention of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.

When wildfire smoke affects a worksite, employers must monitor the air quality index (AQI) for PM2.5. Employers can monitor the AQI using the following websites:

• U.S. EPA AirNow website
• U.S. Forest Service Wildland Air Quality Response Program website
• California Air Resources Board website
• Local air pollution control district websites or local air quality management district website

If the AQI for PM2.5 is 151 or greater, employers must take the following steps to protect employees:

• Communication – Inform employees of the AQI for PM2.5 and the protective measures available to them.
• Training and Instruction – Provide effective training and instruction to all employees on the information contained in section 5141.1 Appendix B.
• Modifications – Implement modifications to the workplace, if feasible, to reduce exposure. Examples include providing enclosed structures or vehicles for employees to work in, where the air is filtered.
• Changes – Implement practicable changes to work procedures or schedules. Examples include changing the location where employees work or reducing the amount of time they work outdoors or exposed to unfiltered outdoor air.
• Respiratory protection – Provide proper respiratory protection equipment, such as disposable respirators, for voluntary use. 
  • To filter out fine particles, respirators must be labeled N-95, N-99, N-100, R-95, P-95, P-99, or P-100, and must be labeled as approved by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

“Cal/OSHA is working diligently to identify viable available temporary alternatives that would provide workers with an acceptable alternative to a compliant respirator such as an N-95 mask,” added Chief Parker.

CalOES and the California Department of Food and Agriculture are working in partnership to provide approximately one million N-95 masks to help protect farmworkers from wildfire smoke. County Agricultural Commissioners in affected counties will distribute the masks.

If the AQI for PM2.5 exceeds 500, respirator use is required. Employers must ensure employees uses respirators and implement a respiratory protection program as required in California’s respiratory standard. For information or help on developing a respiratory protection program, see Cal/OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Fact Sheet.

Guidance for employers and workers on working safely in conditions with smoke caused by the wildfires is available on Cal/OSHA’s web page, including information for protecting outdoor workers, details on how to protect indoor workers from outdoor air pollution, and frequently asked questions about N95 masks.

Information on current wildfires is available from CalFire and the Incident Information System website.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers and workers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.

Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices. Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

Fairgrounds in Solano, Napa, Nevada, Monterey, Los Angeles and Plumas counties have been activated to provide emergency shelter to people and animals in the path of series of fires in California.

Horses, goats, chickens, sheep and donkeys are among the animals currently being sheltered. They will be cared for as long as necessary and every effort will be made to reunite them with their owners.

This emergency function is yet another example of how California’s network of fairs partners with local communities as public assets and essential institutions that serve Californians in many important ways.

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which oversees the operation of California’s bulk electric power system, transmission lines, and electricity market, offers the following guidelines for reducing energy consumption during the current heat wave:

• Set your thermostat to 78° or higher between 3 and 10 P.M.
• Refrain from major appliance use between 3 and 10 P.M.
• Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances

Additional steps and guidance for individuals & businesses:

• Adjust Your Thermostat
  • During peak hours or when you’re not home, remember to set your thermostat at 78° or higher. Setting your air conditioner 5° higher can save up to 20 percent on cooling costs.
  • Pre-cool your home by running air conditioning at 72 degrees in the early part of the day (when it is more efficient) then turn your system to 78 or higher during the hottest part of the day when demand is the highest.
  • Use smart or programmable features to help maintain energy savings when you’re not home.
• Close Windows and Doors
  • Keep windows and doors closed to prevent the loss of cooled or heated air.
  • On summer nights, open windows to let cooler air in when safe. In the morning before the day starts to heat up, close windows and blinds to keep warm air out.
  • Tilt blinds up and close drapes and shades on windows that receive direct sunlight.
• Smart Energy Use
  • Turn off unnecessary lighting and use task or desktop lamps with LEDs instead of overhead lights.
  • Enable “power management” on all computers and turn off when not in use.
  • Unplug phone charges, power strips (those without a switch) and other equipment when not in use. Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator.
• Access and Functional Needs
  • Check in on neighbors, friends and family who may be at risk.
  • Charge medical devices in off hours and have back up plan for if the power goes out.
  • In addition to traditional community support channels, individuals with access and functional needs should reach out to local government for assistance.
  • Contact local utilities companies if you are dependent on power for assistive devices.
• Major Appliance Use
  • Postpone using major appliances like the oven, dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer until cooler times of the day to avoid heating up your home.
  • Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full. Wait until after 9 p.m. to use these and other major appliances.
  • When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
• Clean or Replace Your Filters
  • A dirty filter forces your air conditioner and furnace to work harder, wasting money, using more energy or natural gas.
• Adjust Your Water Heater
  • Turn your water heater down to 120° or the “normal” setting. Water heating accounts for about 13 percent of home energy costs.
• Conservation Programs
  • Consider participating in your utility’s demand response program. These voluntary programs are short, temporary measures to reduce energy consumption when power supplies are critically low and a Flex Alert has been issued. Contact your local electric utility to learn about your utility’s program and incentives they may offer to participate.

See this link for more at CAISO web site

As the West Coast continues to experience an historic heat wave and related energy shortages, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an emergency proclamation designed to free up energy capacity and reduce the need for temporary energy service disruptions.

The proclamation temporarily allows some energy users and utilities to use backup energy sources to relieve pressure on the grid during peak times during the energy emergency. The text of the proclamation can be found here and a copy can be found here.

Over the weekend, state officials worked aggressively to bring more energy resources online, including increased generation from sources like the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the California State Water Project and investor-owned utilities. The state has also worked with industrial and commercial consumers to reduce energy consumption during peak hours and to increase public awareness around energy saving measures.

All-hands energy meeting

The Governor yesterday convened an all-hands meeting with California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Energy Commission (CEC), the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and senior administration officials as the state and the entire West Coast anticipates serious power shortages as the heat wave intensifies over the coming week.

Governor Newsom demands investigation

Following the meeting, Governor Newsom sent a letter to CAISO, the CPUC and CEC demanding an investigation into the service disruptions that occurred over the weekend and the energy agencies’ failure to predict and mitigate them.

“I write today to express my deep concern about the broadscale de-energizations experienced by too many Californians on August 14 and 15^th. These blackouts, which occurred without prior warning or enough time for preparation, are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nation’s largest and most innovative state,” Governor Newsom wrote. “Residents, communities and other governmental organizations did not receive sufficient warning that these de-energizations could occur. Collectively, energy regulators failed to anticipate this event and to take necessary actions to ensure reliable power to Californians. This cannot stand. California residents and businesses deserve better from their government.”

Guidance to residents and businesses to conserve power

Yesterday, CAISO issued a statewide Flex Alert calling for voluntary electricity conservation, beginning Sunday and extending through Wednesday. The Flex Alerts are in effect from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day.

CAISO highlighted three simple actions individuals and businesses can take to reduce energy consumption:

• Set your thermostat to 78° or higher between 3 and 10 P.M.
• Refrain from major appliance use between 3 and 10 P.M.
• Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances

Additional steps and guidance for individuals & businesses:

• Adjust Your Thermostat
  • During peak hours or when you’re not home, remember to set your thermostat at 78° or higher. Setting your air conditioner 5° higher can save up to 20 percent on cooling costs.
  • Pre-cool your home by running air conditioning at 72 degrees in the early part of the day (when it is more efficient) then turn your system to 78 or higher during the hottest part of the day when demand is the highest.
  • Use smart or programmable features to help maintain energy savings when you’re not home.
• Close Windows and Doors
  • Keep windows and doors closed to prevent the loss of cooled or heated air.
  • On summer nights, open windows to let cooler air in when safe. In the morning before the day starts to heat up, close windows and blinds to keep warm air out.
  • Tilt blinds up and close drapes and shades on windows that receive direct sunlight.
• Smart Energy Use
  • Turn off unnecessary lighting and use task or desktop lamps with LEDs instead of overhead lights.
  • Enable “power management” on all computers and turn off when not in use.
  • Unplug phone charges, power strips (those without a switch) and other equipment when not in use. Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator.
• Access and Functional Needs
  • Check in on neighbors, friends and family who may be at risk.
  • Charge medical devices in off hours and have back up plan for if the power goes out.
  • In addition to traditional community support channels, individuals with access and functional needs should reach out to local government for assistance.
  • Contact local utilities companies if you are dependent on power for assistive devices.
• Major Appliance Use
  • Postpone using major appliances like the oven, dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer until cooler times of the day to avoid heating up your home.
  • Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full. Wait until after 9 p.m. to use these and other major appliances.
  • When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
• Clean or Replace Your Filters
  • A dirty filter forces your air conditioner and furnace to work harder, wasting money, using more energy or natural gas.
• Adjust Your Water Heater
  • Turn your water heater down to 120° or the “normal” setting. Water heating accounts for about 13 percent of home energy costs.
• Conservation Programs
  • Consider participating in your utility’s demand response program. These voluntary programs are short, temporary measures to reduce energy consumption when power supplies are critically low and a Flex Alert has been issued. Contact your local electric utility to learn about your utility’s program and incentives they may offer to participate.

Infographic courtesy of the California Department of Health Services

By Brian Johnson

Overwhelmed hospitals.

Large outbreaks at food processing plants and skilled nursing facilities.

And sobering statistics that mean ongoing restrictions on everything from local businesses to schools.

Tulare County is waging a war against the coronavirus, and the state is here to help meet their needs and get a handle on the virus’ spread.

“We’re here to listen to them, what’s working, what isn’t,” California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross said. “How can we work together to stop the spread of COVID-19, mitigate the impacts, identify where the gaps are, and make sure that we’re really delivering as an all government approach?”

Protecting essential workers in the field and food processing facilities is a top priority for Tulare County and the entire Central Valley.

Ross says the state is already addressing that through a new program that provides hotel rooms to agriculture workers who have tested positive or have been exposed to COVID-19.

Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency Spokesperson Carrie Monteiro says other topics discussed during the state’s two-day visit include how to improve contact tracing and increase capacity at their state certified public health lab.

“Here in Tulare County we want to be at max capacity for testing and labs,” Monteiro said. “And so (we’re) really having frank discussions with the state on resources that we can get available to Tulare County and here in the Valley so we can up that capacity to better respond.”

“One of the things we’ve heard loud and clear here in Tulare County is increasing testing is great, but the labs on the back end, if they don’t have the supplies to process those tests, we have too long of a delay in getting those test results out, and then what’s the point of testing?” Ross said.

The partnership between the state and county doesn’t end here.

State representatives will return to Sacramento to start the next steps of delivering resources and positive results to an area that needs relief now.

Tulare County is the second to last stop for the Central Valley task force.

A team will travel to Kings County next week.

View a video of the story

Link to story on ABC/30 web site

By Kevin Hecteman

As the 21st century continues, Southern California will likely feel the effects of climate change, and farmers and ranchers will want to be ready to adapt: That’s the main conclusion of a report released by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which partnered on the project with the San Diego-based Climate Science Alliance.

At a webinar held recently, CDFA and the Climate Science Alliance discussed the findings and the need to tailor the report’s large-scale findings to local needs.

“Farmers are at the forefront of all of these extremes,” Connor Magee of the Climate Science Alliance said during the webinar. “We’ve heard that in our feedback. A lot of the challenges that are faced (in) climate change, farmers experience firsthand on a daily basis.”

One theme Magee said he’d heard repeatedly in the course of his work was the need for cooperation among farmers—”a stronger connection to the researchers and technical-assistance specialists … knowing where to go and having support when new challenges arise.”

The report examines the observed and anticipated changes in several regions crucial to California agriculture: the southern San Joaquin Valley, the Imperial and Coachella valleys, and San Diego County.

In the southern San Joaquin Valley—defined in the report as Kern, Kings and Tulare counties—the report forecasts increases in average summer and winter temperatures of anywhere from 7 to 11 degrees by 2100, while annual precipitation may decline by as much as 3.5 inches in lower elevations and as much as 10 inches in higher elevations, along with a 9-inch decrease in the snowpack.

Almonds, the second-most-valuable crop in Kern County behind table grapes, could see higher yields from warmer springs and summers, the report said, but could also see a shorter bloom season in January and February due to warmer temperatures. Declines in seasonal fog may cut into the chill hours needed for tree development.

The inland desert, mainly the winter vegetable-growing region of Imperial and Riverside counties, could see more intense heat waves and precipitation, carrying a higher risk of flash flooding.

San Diego County, the state’s top avocado producer, could see more intense extreme-precipitation events and greater warming inland compared to the coast, the report said.

Avocados, according to the report summary, could be in for as much as a 45% reduction in yields statewide. Future production may shift from coastal and inland Southern California to coastal Central California as the southern half of the state warms. The report said water availability could become an issue, resulting from lower precipitation and the threat of droughts.

The summary also calls for more research into nursery and cut flower production, to help understand how climate change will affect them, “while helping to inform opportunities for innovation, resource efficiency, and best-management practices that ensure production flourishes in the future.”

The report and the summary of crop impacts may be found at www.climatesciencealliance.org/2020-consortium.

Link to Ag Alert web site

From a USDA news release

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invited potential conservation partners to submit project applications for federal funding through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS will award up to $360 million dollars to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. 

“RCPP brings an expanded approach to investing in natural resource conservation that empowers local communities to work with multiple partners and agricultural producers to design solutions that work best for them,” said NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr. 

Partners may request between $250,000 and $10 million in RCPP funding through this funding announcement. Partners are expected to offer value-added contributions to amplify the impact of RCPP funding in an amount equal or greater to the NRCS investment.

“We have incredible conservation partners and agricultural producers,” said Carlos Suarez, NRCS State Conservationist in California. “Looking forward to continuing our support of implementing conservation activities on private lands,” he continued. 

Eligible lead partners are encouraged to apply. Funding is open to private industry, non-government organizations, Indian tribes, state and local governments, water districts and universities, among others. The full list of eligible entities is available in the RCPP funding announcement.  

First authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, RCPP has combined nearly$1 billion in NRCS investments with close to $2 billion in non-NRCS dollars to implement conservation practices across the nation. There are 336 active RCPP projects that have engaged more than 2,000 partners. Successful RCPP projects provide innovative conservation solutions, leverage partner contributions and offer impactful and measurable outcomes. 

NRCS requested public comment on the RCPP Critical Conservation Areas and their associated priority resource concerns as part of a review allowed by the Farm Bill once every five years. This funding announcement introduces CCA changes that resulted from the review: 

• The California Bay-Delta and Columbia River Basin CCAs have been combined into the Western Waters CCA, which also encompasses the Klamath River Basin and the Puget Sound Basin. 
• A new CCA—Northeast Forests and Waters—has been added to the roster. This CCAs priority resource concerns include water quality and wildlife habitat. The boundaries of the CCA encompass Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. 

USDA is now accepting proposals for RCPP through the RCPP portal. Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 4, 2020. For more information, view the Application for Program Funding on grants.gov. 

A webinar with general program information for RCPP applicants is scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug 27, 2020. Visit the RCPP website for information on how to participate. In California, you may reach Erik.Beardsley@usda.gov or call (530) 792-5649.

For more information on RCPP, visit the RCPP website. 

From a USDA news release

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11th, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these tough times.     Background: USDA collected comments and supporting data for consideration of additional commodities through June 22, 2020. The following additional commodities are now eligible for CFAP: Specialty Crops – aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (french parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga, and yuca/cassava. Non-Specialty Crops and Livestock – liquid eggs, frozen eggs and all sheep. Only lambs and yearlings (sheep less than two years old) were previously eligible. Aquaculture – catfish, crawfish, largemouth bass and carp sold live as foodfish, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical fish, and recreational sportfish. Nursery Crops and Flowers – nursery crops and cut flowers.   Other changes to CFAP include: Seven commodities – onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts and watermelons – are now eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding for sales losses. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for payments on marketing adjustments. Correcting payment rates for onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons.   Additional details can be found in the Federal Register in the Notice of Funding Availability and Final Rule Correction and at www.farmers.gov/cfap.   Producers Who Have Applied: To ensure availability of funding, producers with approved applications initially received 80 percent of their payments. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will automatically issue the remaining 20 percent of the calculated payment to eligible producers. Going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100 percent of their total payment, not to exceed the payment limit, when their applications are approved.   Applying for CFAP: Producers, especially those who have not worked with FSA previously, are recommended to call 877-508-8364 to begin the application process. An FSA staff member can help producers start their application during the phone call.   On farmers.gov/cfap, producers can: Download the AD-3114 application form and manually complete the form to submit to their local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to their local office or office drop box. Complete the application form using the CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center.  If producers have login credentials known as eAuthentication, they can use the online CFAP Application Portal to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center.   All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap. For existing FSA customers, these documents are likely already on file.   All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Program delivery staff will be in the office, and they will be working with producers in the office, by phone and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.