While USDA is expected to release more details on the 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue let a few details slip on Tuesday.
Every qualifying farmer will receive at least $15 an acre, according to Perdue.
"We're anticipating right now three tranches; probably 50%... or a minimum of $15 an acre initially," Perdue told reporters, adding the second and the third waves of payments would be dependent on the market conditions.
Those comments, and a Reuters story reporting them, caught farmers on Twitter by surprise.
$15 per acre is a pittance. And most of it will go to corporate farmers who don’t need it.
— Triciaallday (@popmommie) July 24, 2019
Can anyone tell me where there read //saw this mfp 15 Dollar thing?
— Cova Croppa (@DebbyD62691) July 23, 2019
I need to send it to all my family members that said we needed to plant because it will be based on bushels and now I'm laughing
$15 mfp seems cheap when last years $1.65 x 60bu= $99/acre. #AgriTalk
— Eric Eischeid (@aepork) July 23, 2019
According to Pro Farmer’s Jim Wiesemeyer, MFP signups will begin in August, with payments to go out soon after signup.
“Payments will be based on county rates, and it is unclear if USDA will provide all of them,” he said adding sources signal “virtual certainty” that farmers will get the second and third round of 2019 MFP payments.
