Details of the USDA Support Package for Farmers Impacted by Tariffs

The US Department of Agriculture has announced the details of the relief package for farmers suffering losses from unjustified retaliatory tariffs, the Georgia Department of Agriculture says.

Georgia farmers can start signing up on Monday, July 29 at their local Farm Service Agency office for the Market Facilitation Program and the Food Purchase and Distribution Program.

“Our farmers have certainly had their fair share of challenges this past year,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black in a news release. “We are proud of Georgia’s farmers for displaying strength and resilience during this trying time and for the Administration and USDA for their efforts to assist. This substantial effort is very encouraging, and we believe that it will greatly benefit all of our Georgia producers, especially our pecan, peanut and cotton growers.”

The Market Facilitation Program will assist row crop growers based on a single county payment rate multiplied by a farm’s total plantings in 2019. See the county assistance rates in the PDF document.

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Pecans who have been profoundly affected by the retaliatory tariffs are also available for assistance through the Market Facilitation Program with a payment of $146 per acre.

In addition to the Market Facilitation Program assistance to dairy producers with a per hundredweight payment on production history, USDA’s Food Purchase and Distribution Program will assist dairy producers by purchasing surplus milk for distribution by the Food and Nutrition Service to food banks, schools, and other outlets serving low-income individuals.

Additionally, CCC Charter Act authority will be used to implement an up to $1.4 billion FPDP through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to purchase surplus commodities affected by trade retaliation such as fruits, vegetables, some processed foods, beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and milk for distribution by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to food banks, schools, and other outlets serving low-income individuals.

More details regarding the support package for farmers can be found here.