Bison producers are just one, of the several, people in the livestock industry excited bout the second Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The industry was frustrated when USDA excluded bison from the first round of CFAP assistance. National Bison Association Executive Director Dave Carter says the negative economic impacts from COVID-19 are huge. “More than 85 percent of high-value (bison) cuts are sold in restaurants. Its a hard hit on marketers to make the decision to either put those cuts in the freezer or turn them into ground bison.” While cattle producers were included in the first round of CFAP payments, a large chunk of those producers missed out the funding because of the specified time frame. “There was an arbitrary cutoff date of April 15,” says U.S. Cattlemen’s Association Director of Policy and Outreach Lia Biondo. “That was in the height of the pandemic and when most producers were experiencing losses because the were holding on to cattle.” Cattlemen still have questions about program eligibility. “How are newborn calves classified? Are they eligible,” asks North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Executive Vice President Julie Ellingson. “Many producers castrate their bull calves and fall within that time frame.” The sheep, hog and turkey industries are also on the list to receive CFAP 2 payments. Full program details, including eligibility requirements, are available on the USDA website. Listen to the full story.