Last Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced details of USDA’s $16 billion package aimed at supporting American agricultural producers. The package includes the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP), the Food Purchase and Distribution Program (FPDP) and the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which was available to almond growers in 2018 and is available again in 2019 through the second round of funding. The 2019 MFP trade mitigation package provides payments to eligible producers of specialty crops, including almonds, fresh grapes, fresh sweet cherries, pistachios and walnuts, as well as some non-specialty crops, dairy and livestock.
Last year, the Almond Board hosted a Market Facilitation Program workshop, convening almond growers from around the valley to learn more about the program and meet with USDA Farm Service Agency staff to apply.
In the 2019 MFP package, almond growers will receive $146/acre, an increase from the $0.3/lb payment given in the first round of funding.
Due to regulatory changes signed into law in 2019, growers who were not eligible for the first round of payments due to the adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $900,000 may qualify for 2019 MFP funding – and re-apply for 2018 MFP funding – if they are able to verify 75% or more of their average AGI was derived from farming and ranching to qualify.
Simply put, to be eligible for payments applicants also must either:
- have an average AGI for tax years 2014, 2015 and 2016 of less than $900,000; or
- derive at least 75 percent of their average AGI from farming and ranching.
Producers must also have a farm number with USDA's Farm Service Agency and comply with the provisions of the “Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation” regulations (often called the conservation compliance provisions).
All payments will be made by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). The first payment will be made in mid-to-late August. MFP payments will be made in up to three allocations, with the second and third allocations evaluated as market conditions and trade opportunities dictate. If conditions warrant, the second allocation will be made in November, and the third in early January.Producers must also have a farm number with USDA's Farm Service Agency and comply with the provisions of the “Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation” regulations (often called the conservation compliance provisions).
Sign-ups for the 2019 MFP opened Monday, July 29, and will close on December 6, 2019. The supplemental 2018 MFP signup period will run in parallel to the 2019 signup period.
Growers may sign-up for the MFP online or at their local FSA offices. To find your local FSA office and for more information on MFP, click here. If you’d like to speak with Almond Board staff about the program, please contact Julie Adams at jadams@almondboard.com.
