Special to the Beacon
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced last week the availability of funding for the new Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP).
The secretary’s announcement of the proram came appropriately on National Agriculture Day (Tuesday, March 18) to aid American row crop producers who are reeling from depressed commodity markets and unsustainable input prices.
The Georgia Cotton Commission is appreciative of this streamlined implementation, said Colquitt County cotton producer Bart Davis, who also serves as the Chairman of the Georgia Cotton Commission.
“We again thank Congress for the passage of the bill that included this program, and are especially appreciative of President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and the entire team at USDA for making implementation of ECAP a priority,” Davis said in a statement released by the commission.
Davis later noted the current state of the farm economy adding “this will help producers obtain critical financing, which is extremely difficult in the current economic environment.”
ECAP registration will be accepted through August 15.
Eligibility is determined based on a producer’s crop year 2024 planted and prevented planted acres reported to USDA-FSA on a FSA-578.
The payment rate for cotton is $84.74 per acre and the initial payments will be factored by 85 percent to ensure that program payments do not exceed available funding. Producers are directed to their local USDA Service Center for additional information and questions.
The GCC is a producer-funded organization located in Perry. The Commission began in 1965.
Georgia cotton producers pay an assessment enabling the commission to invest in programs of research, promotion, and education on behalf of all cotton producers.
For information about the GCC, (478) 988-4235 or visit www.georgiacottoncommission. org.
