Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, reminds producers that the deadline to sign up for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) has been extended until February 14, 2019, due to the recent partial shutdown of federal government. “As we are approaching another government funding deadline on February 15, I highly encourage applicants that have not signed up, to do so as soon as possible if they want to avoid potential payment delays if the federal government experiences another shutdown,” said Green.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will administer MFP to provide payments to corn (fresh and processed), cotton, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean (fresh and processed), wheat, shelled almond, and fresh sweet cherry producers.
Producers must complete an application by February 14, 2019 but have until May 1, 2019 to certify their 2018 production. Eligible producers should apply after harvest is complete, as payments will only be issued once production is reported.
For farmers who have already applied, completed harvest, and certified their 2018 production, a second payment will be issued on the remaining 50 percent of the producer’s total production, multiplied by the MFP rate for the specific commodity. For farmers who signed up after December 17, 2018, payments will be issued on 100 percent of the producer’s total production, multiplied by the MFP rate for the specific commodity.
Below are the payment rates for commodities produced in DeKalb and Cannon counties:
Corn- $0.01/ bushel Dairy (milk) – $0.12/hundred weight Pork (hogs) – $8.00/head
Soybeans – $1.65/bushel Wheat – $0.14/bushel
MFP payments are limited to a combined $125,000 for corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat capped per person or legal entity. MFP payments are also limited to a combined $125,000 for dairy and hog producers, and a combined $125,000 for fresh sweet cherry and almond producers. Applicants must also have an average adjusted gross income for tax years 2014, 2015, and 2016 of less than $900,000. Applicants must also comply with the provisions of the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation regulations.
MFP applications are available online at www.farmers.gov/mfp. Applications can be completed at a local FSA office or submitted electronically either by scanning, emailing, or faxing. To locate or contact your local FSA office, visit www.farmers.gov.
