USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky said $5.5 billion in Market Facilitation Program (MFP) 2 payments have been made to farmers since the Farm Service Agency began issuing checks the week of August 19. USDA is deciding whether to go through with the next installment of trade relief payments to farmers for 2019 production.
Censky said the department is aiming to make a final call "in the very near future... I think we are very much aware that producers have been impacted by the trade retaliation, they have been impacted by the weather, low incomes," Censky said.
MFP2 payments will potentially be in three installments: The first round became available over the summer, while the second and third tranches will be available in November and January, if warranted.
Meanwhile, Senate Ag ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told Censky the trade mitigation program is upsetting the delicate balance lawmakers attempted to strike in the 2018 Farm Bill relative to spreading federal dollars evenly across the ag sector. Our expectation is the second and third installments of MFP2 payments will be made.
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