08.05.19

Hoeven Holds Roundtable with FSA Administrator Fordyce on Second Round of MFP Paymnets, Farm Bill Implementation

As Chairman of Ag Appropriations, Hoeven Helped Secure Funding to Provide Agriculture Assistance

FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today held a roundtable with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce and North Dakota producers on the next round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments.

Hoeven worked with USDA and the White House to secure an additional $16 billion in assistance for producers impacted by trade negotiations, including $14.5 billion for a second round of MFP payments. The senator also worked to ensure coverage for all Title I commodities, including soybeans, wheat, corn, canola and others.

Fordyce also provided an update on FSA’s efforts to implement the 2018 Farm Bill, including several Hoeven provisions. FSA expects to issue updated regulations for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs early this fall. In April, FSA announced it had increased the limits for its ownership and operating loans, consistent with the Capital for Farmers and Ranchers Act, which Hoeven secured as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.

“We appreciate Administrator Fordyce coming to North Dakota to meet with our producers about this round of agriculture assistance, as well as implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill,” said Hoeven. “USDA is working to get the first installment of this round of MFP payments out this month, so it’s important that Administrator Fordyce hear directly from our producers. Given the challenges in farm country, this agriculture assistance is vital for our farmers and ranchers. We want to ensure that USDA receives feedback firsthand on both the MFP and farm bill implementation so they can best meet producer needs.”

Market Facilitation Program Payment

USDA is providing producers with a per acre payment based on a county average payment rate. Producers can access their county payment rate at www.farmers.gov/mfp. Producers will receive the greater of either 50% of their payment or a $15 per acre minimum in the initial payment coming out this month.

Producers who planted cover crops on prevent plant acres are eligible to receive a $15 per acre MFP payment, in addition to their prevent plant insurance coverage. Also, USDA continues looking into providing additional coverage for prevent plant acres using funding from the disaster supplemental appropriations law passed earlier this year. Hoeven has been working to assist producers with prevent plant acres, including securing approval from USDA for producers to hay or graze cover crops on prevent plant acres beginning on September 1 in 2019.

Farm Purchases

USDA is also implementing the farm purchase portion of the agriculture assistance plan, and will purchase surplus commodities for food pantries, school nutrition programs and other organizations. Farm purchases will include:

  • $151 million for beef
  • $22 million for potatoes
  • $68 million for milk

Agriculture Trade Promotion

In July, Hoeven also announced $100 Million in Agriculture Trade Promotion funding to help develop new markets for U.S. agriculture goods, including to entities supporting North Dakota producers. 

-###-