Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst made the following statement today on President Trump’s proposed Market Facilitation Program:
“The formula for President Trump’s proposed Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which is intended to financially assist farmers harmed by trade retaliation, only takes into account 2018 crop yields. Missouri’s yields are crippled by drought, with over 30% of the state in severe or extreme drought. The combination of drought and trade retaliation is hammering Missouri farmers, and the proposed MFP formula would unintentionally penalize the drought-affected areas.
“Today Missouri Farm Bureau asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to take yield history into account for areas affected by significant drought in 2018. This allows for fair treatment of drought-stricken farmers. Missouri Farm Bureau encourages Secretary Perdue to act quickly to make adjustments to the MFP and ensure the hardest-hit areas are not left behind.”
