Details of the $16 billion support package for farmers were released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: USDA Press Release. K·Coe Isom’s Farm Program Services team has compiled these key guidelines for producers who want to apply for MFP Payments:
MFP Payment guidelines:
- Payment limit is a combined $250,000 for non-specialty crops per person/entity. The limits are $250,000 for dairy and hog; $250,000 for specialty crop. All separate limits. No applicant can receive more than $500,000. This is not well explained, but seems to be combined non-specialty/specialty/dairy and hogs and not per operation.
- First payment will be the higher of $15, or 50%, of the county rate.
- First payment to be made mid-to-late August. Second and third payments are not guaranteed, but are slated for November and January if applicable.
Crops:
- Producers should have timely certified crops with FSA.
- Producers must have crops planted to a farm number with FSA.
- Producers who filed ‘prevented plant claims’ and certified with FSA, planted a (FSA Certified) cover crop (with potential to be harvested or used as forage), qualify for $15/acre MFP payment. Cover crop must be planted by August 1, 2019.
Eligibility:
- Eligible producers must have an average AGI less than $900,000 or have at least 75 percent of their AGI from farming or ranching. (This is for 2015, 2016, 2017.)
- Must have an AD-1026 on file with FSA and comply with “Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation” regulations.
- Application period starts Monday, July 29th.
Below are details regarding the commodities that can apply. For more information, visit the Market Facilitation Program website: https://www.farmers.gov/manage/mfp
Non-Specialty Crops – County Rate $/Acre
- Alfalfa Hay
- Barley
- Canola
- Corn
- Crambe
- Dried Beans
- Dried Peas
- Extra-Long Staple Cotton
- Flaxseed
- Lentils
- Long/Medium Grain Rice
- Millet
- Mustard Seed
- Oats
- Peanuts
- Rapeseed
- Rye
- Safflower
- Sesame Seed
- Small/Large Chickpeas
- Sorghum
- Soybeans
- Sunflower Seed
- Terperate Japonica Rice
- Triticale
- Upland Cotton
- Wheat
For questions or help regarding MFP payments eligibility, contact our Farm Program Services advisors.