No trade aid for unplanned hectares due to flood, USDA | Agriculture
There will be no trade support for farmers who fail to plant a crop this season due to wet weather which caused intensive flooding and property damage, according to a US Department of Agriculture release.
Agricultural Secretary Sonny Perdue said the USDA is not legally authorized to pay producers for unplanned acres and explores "legal flexibility." Manufacturers are encouraged to work with their crop insurance agent to submit a claim.
USDA announced a second package of help last month to help farmers who have been harmed by the trade war with China. The $ 1[ads1]6 billion package will cut farmers, who already receive low prices for their crops, from the full effect of China's retaliatory tariffs.
Spring began with a number of natural disasters. Some farmers, especially those along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and their Midwest and South annexes, still have land under water. Even as the water goes down, many find that their soil is not healthy enough for planting.
Another complication is that the USDA has not yet announced payment levels for the bulk of the aid package, the $ 14.5 billion market improvement program, so farmers do not know how much the federal government will pay them to plant a crop as opposed to one. other.
"I urge farmers to plant for the market and plant what works best on their farm, regardless of what kind of aid programs the USDA is able to provide," says Perdue in a statement.
USDA considers a minimal per acre payment to farmers who have filed "prevented planting", insurance coverage that protects producers who are unable to plant a crop on a particular date or are affected by adverse weather conditions.
"If you choose to plant a cover crop with potential to Being harvested, due to this year's unwanted weather conditions, you can qualify for a minimal amount of 2019 MFP assistance, the USDA says in the release. "However, you must comply with your crop insurance requirements to be eligible for any allowances received."
In addition to the $ 16 billion aid package, President Donald Trump last week signed a $ 19.1 war toll bill. Under that legislation, the USDA can offset losses due to prevented planting in 2019 up to 90 percent, but it is "highly unlikely" that farmers will receive that level of coverage in addition to crop insurance, according to the USDA.
As of Monday, 94% of corn was planted in Nebraska, compared to the average of 99% for this time of year, and farmers had planted 79% of the soybean seed, behind the average of 94%.