On August 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced details regarding actions it will take to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation by foreign nations. In July, the USDA announced it would authorize up to $12 billion in programs to mitigate retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. agriculture.

The following programs will be used to assist agricultural producers:

• 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 starting September 4, 2018.  This is the first payment period.  The second payment period, if warranted, will be determined by USDA.
• 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 retaliatory tariffs. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will distribute these commodities through nutrition assistance 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.

Beginning September 4, MFP applications will be available online at www.farmers.gov/MFP. Producers can submit their MFP applications in person, by email, fax, or by mail.