Source: AMERICAN SEED TRADE ASSOCIATION, 9/6/18


Dear ASTA member,

Several days ago, ASTA was made aware that there was confusion regarding whether farmers who grow corn/soybean/wheat seed would be eligible to receive payments for their seed acres under USDA’s recently announced Market Facilitation Program (MFP). As previously reported in ASTA’s Seed eNews, these payments are intended to offset price losses caused by tariffs and other trade disruptions.  

ASTA raised this concern with Bill Northey, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, who is tasked with overseeing the MFP program. Under Secretary Northey confirmed to ASTA that it was not the intention of USDA to exclude seed producers.

Northey clarified, “Crops with an intended use (as previously recorded on the FSA-578) of grain and seed are eligible for MFP. Crops with an intended use of silage, forage, grazing are not eligible. However, crops with an intended use of grain or seed that were mechanically harvested, such as for silage, will be eligible. That is, if they cut it for silage, but it was intended for grain or seed, they would be eligible for MFP.” 

More information is available in a memo for State and County offices, published on September 4, 2018 outlining the requirements for the Market Facilitation Program. Page 6 of that memo clarifies the commodities, with their intended uses, that are eligible for the MFP program. Commodities include cotton, corn, grain sorghum, soybean and wheat.  



We appreciate that this issue was brought to our attention by ASTA members so quickly so it could be resolved. If you have any questions, please let us know. And don’t hesitate to reach out in the future when you have concerns.  

Thank you in advance for distributing this message internally to your contacts.
Sincerely,

Andy LaVigne
President & CEO