Will There Be A 3rd Round Of MFP Payments?

With talks progressing between the U.S. and China, many producers are wondering if another round of Market Facilitation Program payments will take place.

“Question has to do with the third traunch of the MFP payments this year,” Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said.  “And I am expecting that. We haven't seen anything to give us any indication that way.”

Perdue added USDA authorizes the money but the Office of Management and the Budget makes the allocation.

“They were very helpful in the second traunch that we got out before Thanksgiving. And we don't see a market move that would make it not needed for the third traunch after the first of the year.”

On whether there will be another Market Facilitation Program in 2020, the USDA head made no commitments.

“[if we can get a deal with China if markets move if we can accumulate the extraning relationships that we have and we can get back to more stable trade relationship I'd be hopeful that we wouldn't need a third market facilitation program,” Perdue continued.

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