07.25.19

Hoeven: USDA to Provide Second Round of MFP Payments by Mid to Late August, Sign Up Begins July 29

Senator Worked as Chairman of Ag Appropriations to Secure Aid for Producers, Continues Pushing for Approval of USMCA

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today released the following statement after USDA released details about the next round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments. Hoeven worked with USDA and the White House to secure $14.5 billion for a second round of MFP payments and to ensure coverage for all Title I commodities, including soybeans, wheat, corn, canola and others.

“This agriculture assistance is vitally important for our farmers and ranchers. USDA will administer the second round of MFP and provide the first 50 percent of payments by mid to late August,” said Hoeven. “While this is important assistance, what we really need is access to markets for our producers. That’s why I continue to push to finalize trade agreements, like the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. We need to get the USMCA approved as soon as possible.”

Market Facilitation Payment 

USDA will provide producers with a per acre payment based on a county average payment rate. Producers can access their county payment rate at www.farmers.gov/mfp. USDA expects to provide the first installment of MFP payments by mid to late August with producers receiving the greater of either 50% of their payment or a $15 per acre minimum. Sign-up for the program will begin on Monday, July 29.

Producers who planted cover crops on prevent plant acres are eligible to receive a $15 per acre MFP payment, in addition to their prevent plant insurance coverage. Also, USDA continues looking into providing additional coverage for prevent plant acres using funding from the disaster supplemental appropriations law passed earlier this year. Hoeven has been working to assist producers with prevent plant acres, including securing approval from USDA for producers to hay or graze cover crops on prevent plant acres beginning on September 1 in 2019.

Farm Purchases 

USDA is also implementing the farm purchase portion of the agriculture assistance plan, and will purchase surplus commodities for food pantries, school nutrition programs and other organizations. Farm purchases will include:

  • $151 million for beef
  • $22 million for potatoes
  • $68 million for milk 

Last week, Hoeven announced $100 Million in Agriculture Trade Promotion funding to help develop new markets for U.S. agriculture goods, including to entities supporting North Dakota producers. This was the third part of the $16 billion in agriculture assistance Hoeven helped secure to aid producers impacted by trade negotiations.

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