12.11.19

Hoeven: Trade Assistance Signup Deadline Extended to December 20

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the signup deadline for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) to December 20, 2019. As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to secure a second round of trade assistance under MFP and ensure coverage for all Title I crops, including soybeans, wheat, corn, canola and others. Further, the senator worked to replenish the program’s funding through the recent appropriations extensions passed by Congress. Additionally, USDA is extending the deadline for the Dairy Margin Coverage program to December 20 for the 2020 calendar year.

“Farmers have been overburdened in recent months with challenging weather, crops left in the field and trying to dry their grain after excessive moisture,” said Hoeven. “This added flexibility will help give them adequate time to sign up for the second round of MFP payments. This trade assistance is one of the tools that we’ve advanced to help producers overcome these difficult times, and we appreciate the USDA for working with us to ensure farmers can benefit from this program.”

Hoeven has been working to support producers as they weather the challenges of natural disasters and trade uncertainty. To this end, Hoeven has sought to:

  • Secure a disaster designation from the USDA for 47 North Dakota counties.
  • Provide disaster funding through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) to help cover crop losses.
    • Hoeven this week again made the case to USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey to provide assistance to sugar growers who were unable to harvest their crop due to severe weather.
  • Secure additional Market Facilitation Program payments and ensure the November tranche was sent out as early as possible.
  • Increase access to reliable and affordable propane supplies to assist with drying grain and providing heat for livestock.

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