Sign-Ups for Direct Payments Now Open

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Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, July 29, 2019

Producers whose international sales have been negatively impacted by trade tariffs are eligible to enroll in the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), part of the Trade Mitigation Package that will provide up to $14.5 billion in direct payments to agricultural producers nationwide. 

Sign-ups began July 29, 2019 and will continue through December 6, 2019. Payments will be based on 2019 planted acres with some additional restrictions. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is administering the program.

Producers affected by natural disasters who filed prevented planting claims then planted an MFP-eligible cover crop with the potential to be harvested or for subsequent use as forage qualify for a $15 per acre payment.

Eligible commodities are:

  • Hogs and dairy
  • Non-specialty crops: alfalfa hay, barley, canola, corn, crambe, dried beans, dry peas, extra-long staple cotton, flaxseed, lentils, long grain and medium grain rice, millet, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, rapeseed, rye, safflower, sesame seed, small and large chickpeas, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seed, temperate japonica rice, triticale, upland cotton, and wheat
  • Specialty crops:  almonds, cranberries, cultivated ginseng, fresh grapes, fresh sweet cherries, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts

To enroll, contact your county FSA office to make an appointment. FSA is using this approach because they anticipate widespread participation in MFP signups.

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Content adapted from an update issued by USDA California Farm Service Agency July 26, 2019.