The Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 2 has dispersed $2.015 million among 1,065 recipients by July 9, eclipsing the $2 million threshold. However, these disbursements are significantly lower than what had been projected by the USDA for this program.
The Phase 1 ERP payments remain fairly constant, adding up to a cumulative total of $7.43 billion, comprised of $6.30 billion for non-specialty crops and $1.14 billion for specialty crops.
Meanwhile, USDA reduced the payment amounts under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2). Latest reported figures indicate $19.43 billion total disbursements, a slight drop from the initially reported $19.48 billion.
The breakdown now consists of initial CFAP 2 payments at $14.50 billion (lowered from $14.55 billion), and top-up payments at $0.92 billion, which show a significant reduction from the previous $4.93 billion.
Related story: Key Differences Between ERP Phase 2 and PARP
USDA has not extended the due date for ERP Phase 2 and PARP. They are both due this Friday, July 14.
As for 2022 ERP, a USDA official told us:
“It certainly helps us get to the end goal but there are other policies that are area based that need to be finalized prior to 2022 ERP going live; not to mention that we still will be required to publish a NOFA announcing 2022 provisions in the Federal Register before sign up is announced.”
