Second Half of Market Facilitation Program Payment

Earlier this week USDA Secretary of Agriculture Sunny Perdue said that the USDA would be making the second half of the Market Facilitation Program payments. Remember this program was developed to help farmers caught in the trade war with China. Corn and soybean growers could sign up for the first half of the payment as soon they finished with harvest. Pork and dairy producers could sign up for the first half right away.

We were told the USDA would decide in December if the second half was needed. That is why it caught us by surprise when we heard that Secretary of Agriculture Purdue said that the USDA would be making the second half of the payments too! I did call Gary Kunz County FSA Direct in Le Sueur County and he said they had heard about the announcement. However, they still had not gotten the "official" notification. So, it sounds like the second half will be coming for corn, soybean and livestock producers but it is not a "done deal" just yet!