Details announced on market facilitation program

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – USDA has announced the details of the next market facilitation program. Non-specialty crop payments will be based on a single county payment rate multiplied by a farm’s total plantings of MFP eligible crops in total in 2019. South Dakota Farm Service Agency Executive Director Paul Shubeck says county payment rates range from $15 to $150 per acre.

He says those per acre payments are not dependent on which of the crops are planted in 2019 and a producer’s total payment eligible plantings can’t exceed total 2018 plantings. Farmers will receive half of the amount in this first round.

Farmers that had prevented plant acres and plant a cover crop by August 1 will receive $15 per acre. Shubeck says the signup at county FSA offices starts July 29 and runs through December 6.

Dairy producers who were in business as of June 1, 2019, will receive a $20 per hundredweight payment on production history. Hog producers will receive a payment of $11 per pig based on the number of hogs owned on a day selected by the producer between April 1 and May 15, 2019.