U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Jan. 22 a new deadline of Feb. 14 for submitting applications for trade-relief payments due to the partial government shutdown.
To help process applications and administer other select farm programs, all Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices nationwide will reopen beginning Jan. 24. Office hours are 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., open Monday through Friday from Jan. 28 to Feb. 8. In subsequent weeks, offices will be open on only Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Almond Board of California is continuing to urge eligible growers to submit applications as soon as possible. Applications can be submitted online at Farmers.gov.
Please note that applications do not need to be final by the deadline date but must be signed and submitted by the deadline. Supporting documentation can be added to the application until May 1, 2019.
The Market Facilitation Program, administered by USDA’s FSA, will provide a $0.03/pound direct payment to eligible growers, with the intent to mitigate some of the financial impact anticipated from trade retaliation by foreign nations. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the program last September, noting that $63.3 million of the $12 billion mitigation program would be set aside for eligible almond producers.
“Getting almonds included in this program was the result of persistence and collaboration among various groups within our industry — it was a unified effort that we should all be proud of,” said Julie Adams, vice president, Global Technical, Regulatory and Government Affairs for ABC. “This is the first time that almonds have been included in this type of program, and we want to be sure we’re not leaving resources on the table.”
The Almond Board will share additional information as we receive it. Should you have any questions, please contact Julie Adams, VP of Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs, at jadams@almondboard.com or (209) 343-3238. For more information about the program, visit Farmers.gov/MFP.
Updated: Jan. 23, 2019
