We wanted to send this to you in case it applies to your farm (particularly nursery, livestock, and dairy operations).
The Paycheck Protection Program created under the $2 trillion CARE Act is available to farmers as well as other small businesses. There are other provisions of the CARES Act available for small businesses that farmers may be eligible for. The Small Business Administration (SBA) will administer these programs and is developing applications and information about the programs (https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options).
Importantly, some of these programs will be on a first come first serve basis. So farmers need to look at this ASAP.
Besides these SBA funds, the CARE act also provides funds specifically for agriculture that will be available through USDA. USDA is currently developing criteria for these funds. More information about the USDA programs will be provided as it becomes available.
Below are links to important information regarding the SBA programs.
SBA Coronavirus Relief Options
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options
From American Farm Bureau: Paycheck Protection Loans Available to Farmers, Regardless of Revenue, Apply Now
https://www.fb.org/market-intel/update-ag-and-pppl
From U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act
https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/2/9/29fc1ae7-879a-4de0-97d5-ab0a0cb558c8/1BC9E5AB74965E686FC6EBC019EC358F.the-small-business-owner-s-guide-to-the-cares-act-final-.pdf
From Penn State Extension: Small Business Benefits and the CARES Act: What Farm and Food Producers Need to Know
https://extension.psu.edu/small-business-benefits-and-the-cares-act-what-farm-and-food-producers-need-to-know
From Andrew Branan: COVID-19 and Paycheck Protection Program: Farms Presumed Included (With Practical Limitations):
https://farmlaw.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/04/covid-19-and-paycheck-protection-program-farms-presumed-included-with-practical-limitations/
***This information was provided by Dr. Blake Brown. Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at North Carolina State University.***