USDA Announces MFP Payments, Sign-up Begins Monday

The sign-up period begins Monday for the next round of trade aid payments to farmers. The Department of Agriculture Thursday announced details of the Market Facilitation Program payments as part of a $16 billion trade aid package. USDA will begin mailing payments to producers in late August. County payment rates range from $15 to $150 per acre, depending on the impact of “unjustified trade retaliation” in that county. Most payments for Corn Belt states average between $60 and $80 an acre. Meanwhile, producers who filed a prevented planting claim and planted an FSA-certified cover crop, with the potential to be harvested, qualify for a $15 per acre payment. Acres that were never planted in 2019 are not eligible. Dairy producers will receive a per hundredweight payment on production history. Hog producers will receive a payment based on the number of live hogs owned on a day selected by the producer between April 1 and May 15, 2019. For more information, visit farmers.gov/mfp or contact your local FSA office.