WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — New details are emerging on emergency relief payments for American farmers and ranchers. It is the help the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been saying was on the horizon.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has told several major media outlets that her department is currently ironing out the details. She told Bloomberg she expects a formal announcement sometime during the first week of December.
However, in an interview with Agri-Pulse, USDA Undersecretary Richard Fordyce said the White House is still evaluating the need for relief and warned that any help would need to reflect market conditions. During the shutdown, the Trump Administration made several trade deals, and markets saw a big rally.
However, other forms of relief are rolling out now for farmers and ranchers, who have the weekend to prepare for Stage Two of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program. Farm CPA Paul Neiffer tells us there are some key differences from Stage One.
“Unlike the original Stage One, where they automatically mailed the statements out, they mailed the application out to the farmer; my understanding is they’re not doing that this time,” Neiffer told RFD-TV News on Thursday. “You actually need to either go into the office, you can fax in the application, or you can do it via e-mail. There’s also a system that FSA has. So instead of getting that application directly from FSA, it sounds like you have to reach out to FSA to get the application.”
Stage Two will disburse about $16 billion in funds approved by Congress late last year. It covers eligible crop, tree, bush, and vine losses not covered in Stage One. Sign-ups begin Monday, and producers have until the end of April to return their applications.
Rollins says the new trade relationship with Taiwan, which is committed to buying a significant amount of U.S. soy, could not come at a better time for farmers facing financial strain.
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