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NCGA: USDA trade aid comes up short, again

Most commodity groups are happy with the announcement of the second round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is not.

NCGA president and Nebraska farmer Lynn Chrisp says the USDA’s payment rate of one cent per bushel is “woefully inadequate” to begin covering the losses being felt by corn farmers. Chrisp says NCGA’s calculations shows corn farmers have lost an average of 44 cents per bushel since tariffs were first announced.

NCGA wanted USDA to add ethanol and distillers grains to the calculation of damages for corn. The organization also asked that farmers who suffered production losses from disasters be allowed to use an alternative to 2018 production for their MFP calculation. NCGA says that would have ensured those suffering losses from natural disasters would not be penalized twice.