35% Of Farmers Say The MFP Won’t Offset Their Losses Enough
At first blush, the $14.5 billion package authorized for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) seems a huge shot of financial support for American agricultural producers. But as those dollars are divvied up by operation across the country, it’s easy to see they will likely be quickly depleted.
To that effect, Farm Journal asked farmers in a recent Pulse survey, “Will the MFP payments announced by USDA offset price damage done by the trade war with China?”
Of the 802 total responses, 35% said not nearly enough while 36% said somewhat. Only 8% of farmers said yes, the payments would offset price damage done to their farming enterprise.
MFP payments will be made to farmers in up to three tranches (a French term, meaning slice or portion). The first one has been slated for sometime in August. If conditions warrant, the second and third tranches will be made in November and early January.
More information on the MFP is available on AgWeb here:
Some FSA Offices Unable to Process MFP Applications
MFP Payments Announced Today - Here are Key Provisions
The Farm Journal Pulse is a national survey that polls approximately 5,000 farmers and ranchers in the continental United States for their straight-from-the-farm opinions on topics that are wide-ranging—from production agriculture to politics and everything agriculturally focused in-between. The survey provides an at-the-moment snapshot of farmer sentiment on current topics and trends, reflecting the raw, unweighted vote totals of Pulse participants. Suggestions for the Pulse survey can be e-mailed for consideration to FJPulse@farmjournal.com.