Perdue announced in July that USDA would act to aid farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a short-term relief strategy to protect agricultural producers while the Administration works on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets in the long run to help American farmers compete globally. These programs will assist agricultural producers to meet some of the costs of disrupted markets.
“These programs will allow President Trump time to strike long-term trade deals to benefit our entire economy, including the agricultural sector, in the long run,” Perdue said. “Farmers will tell you that they would always prefer to sell a good crop at a fair price, rather than receive government aid, and that’s what long-term trade deals will accomplish. But in the meantime, President Trump has promised that he will not allow American agriculture to bear the brunt of the unjustified retaliation from foreign nations. Today we are putting the President’s promise into action.”
USDA provided details in August of the programs to be employed:
- USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will administer the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) to provide payments to corn, cotton, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean, and wheat producers. An announcement about further payments will be made in the coming months, if warranted.
- USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will administer a food purchase and distribution program to purchase up to $1.2 billion in commodities unfairly targeted by unjustified retaliation. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will distribute these commodities through nutrition assistance programs, such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program and child nutrition programs.
- Through the Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP), $200 million will be made available to develop foreign markets for U.S. agricultural products. The program will help U.S. agricultural exporters identify and access new markets and help mitigate the adverse effects of other countries’ restrictions.
Note: USDA is currently working to determine how to address market disruptions for producers of almonds and sweet cherries.
Market Facilitation Program
The sign-up period for MFP is now open and runs through January 15, 2019, with information and instructions provided at www.farmers.gov/mfp. The MFP provides payments to cotton, corn, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean, and wheat producers who have been significantly impacted by actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of traditional exports. The MFP is established under the statutory authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation CCC Charter Act and is under the administration of USDA’s FSA. Eligible producers should apply after harvest is complete, as payments will only be issued once production is reported.
A payment will be issued on 50 percent of the producer’s total production, multiplied by the MFP rate for a specific commodity. A second payment period, if warranted, will be determined by the USDA.
| Commodity | Initial Payment Rate | Est. Initial Payment**
(in $1,000s) |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | $0.06 / lb. | $276,900 |
| Corn | $0.01 / bu. | $96,000 |
| Dairy (milk) | $0.12 / cwt. | $127,400 |
| Pork (hogs) | $8.00 / head | $290,300 |
| Soybeans | $1.65 / bu. | $3,629,700 |
| Sorghum | $0.86 / bu. | $156,800 |
| Wheat | $0.14 / bu. | $119,200 |
| Total | $4,696,300 |
** Initial payment rate on 50% of production
MFP payments are limited to a combined $125,000 for corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat capped per person or legal entity. MFP payments are also limited to a combined $125,000 for dairy and hog producers. Applicants must also have an average adjusted gross income for tax years 2014, 2015, and 2016 of less than $900,000. Applicants must also comply with the provisions of the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation regulations.
For more further information or to locate and contact local FSA offices, interested producers can visit www.farmers.gov.
Food Purchase and Distribution Program
Beginning this week, USDA’s AMS will issue pre-solicitation notices through GovDelivery for targeted commodities. These notices will outline products USDA intends to purchase and will continue over the next several weeks. AMS will purchase products over four quarters in the new Federal fiscal year, which starts on October 1, 2018. The materials purchased may be adjusted between quarters to accommodate changes due to growing conditions, product availability, market conditions, trade negotiation status, and program capacity, among other factors.
To expedite first quarter purchases, AMS will focus on products currently purchased for nutrition assistance programs given the existence of qualified USDA suppliers and specifications for these products. Examples include various forms and varieties of apples, pork, beef, dairy, blueberries, grapefruit, oranges, pears, cranberries, plums/prunes, walnuts, potatoes, rice, kidney and navy beans. By purchasing known commodities first, AMS can procure commodities that have been sourced in the past with maximum speed and impact.
| Commodity | Target Amount (in $1,000s) |
|---|---|
| Apples | $93,400 |
| Apricots | $200 |
| Beef | $14,800 |
| Blueberries | $1,700 |
| Cranberries | $32,800 |
| Dairy | $84,900 |
| Figs | $15 |
| Grapefruit | $700 |
| Grapes | $48,200 |
| Hazelnuts | $2,100 |
| Kidney Beans | $14,200 |
| Lemons/Limes | $3,400 |
| Lentils | $1,800 |
| Macadamia | $7,700 |
| Navy Beans | $18,000 |
| Oranges (Fresh) | $55,600 |
| Orange Juice | $24,000 |
| Peanut Butter | $12,300 |
| Pears | $1,400 |
| Peas | $11,800 |
| Pecans | $16,000 |
| Pistachios | $85,200 |
| Plums/Prunes | $18,700 |
| Pork | $558,800 |
| Potatoes | $44,500 |
| Rice | $48,100 |
| Strawberries | $1,500 |
| Sweet Corn | $2,400 |
| Walnuts | $34,600 |
| Total | $1,238,800 |
Agricultural Trade Promotion Program
Applicants may now submit proposals for the FAS $200 million ATP Program. FAS will accept applications on a rolling basis until November 2, 2018. Details regarding ATP and how to apply are available at https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/agricultural-trade-promotion-program.
The aim of the program is to assist American agricultural exporters in identifying and accessing new markets and to help mitigate the adverse effects of other countries’ restrictions. ATP is meant to help all sectors of U.S. agriculture, including fish and forest product producers, mainly through partnerships with non-profit national and regional organizations.
Don’t need farmers we have Walmart.
farmers make more money a year from the government then they do farming. there hardest job is to walk all the way out to the mailbox to see if a check came, then off to the bank and then the coffee shop from there.
What is the source of your information?
Farm welfare- Farmers work 2 week in the spring and 2 weeks in the fall yet receive a full years worth of income. Then sit in the local coffee shop and complain about feeding school children that may be unfortunate enough to need assistance.
Do you have any facts to back your comment?
Everybody on this site is an expert on bullshit nothing else.
Poor Democrats. Right around election time and the current Gov is handing out fat checks to almost every state in the union. It does appear Hillary and company are eating mud. It’s true money talks. But it’s the right kind of money that does. Free Money!!! Not for the rest of the world but for America first. Leave the dark side and come over to the rebel side. May the force be with you. lol
You bet , Luke. Republicans are handing out money just before the elections to buy votes.
Duh, your one sharp pencil. Now see if anybody cares. Sonny boy above is grinning from ear to ear. Payday is coming. lmao
You are one dumbass Trumpanzee.
You’re picking up the the tab for this BS and it is fine with you.
I bet you really like taking in the ass as well.
Stupid fu&ker
You are a real class act, aren’t you Libby?
Remember he’s there for ALL the deplorables. Now lay back down in that basket and go to sleep.
And hog futures just shot out the roof. They’re making bank. Sounds like the Africa swine flu is sweeping China and Russia now. Maybe they don’t need that money now. Want to see a pitchfork revolt. Try taking that money back. Wait…they haven’t got it yet. lol