USDA Approves Final Installment of Market Facilitation Payments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2018
USDA Approves Final Installment of Market Facilitation Payments
WASHINGTON, DC —National Sorghum Producers Board of Directors Chairman Dan Atkisson, a sorghum farmer from Stockton, Kansas, made the following statement in response to USDA’s announcement on the second and final round of trade mitigation payments:
“National Sorghum Producers would like the thank President Trump, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and all other involved U.S. officials for following through a second time on their commitment to provide farmers needed relief from trade retaliations. Sorghum producers are at the end of a difficult harvest season in many regions of the Sorghum Belt, and these payments will help mitigate the drop in prices sorghum farmers have faced since China stopped importing U.S. sorghum earlier this spring.
“We are also encouraged by the recent soybean purchases made by China, and we remain hopeful these sales are a sign negotiations between the U.S. and China will soon lead to a positive resolve. U.S. sorghum farmers look forward to working with our Chinese customers again in the near future, and NSP will continue to work on behalf of our members to achieve long-term markets solutions that benefit sorghum farmers.”
The Market Facilitation Program was announced in July to help mitigate short-term trade damages from trade retaliations on U.S. agriculture exports. Sorghum producers are eligible to receive $0.86 per bushel on 2018 production. Eligible producers need to complete the application by Jan. 15, 2019. Producers who have already applied will receive a second payment for the remaining 50 percent of total production.
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NSP represents U.S. sorghum producers and serves as the voice of the sorghum industry coast to coast through legislative representation, regulatory representation and education. To learn more about NSP, visit www.sorghumgrowers.com.
For more information, contact:
Jennifer Blackburn
External Affairs Director
National Sorghum Producers
jennifer@sorghumgrowers.com
806-749-3478