Market Facilitation Payments Deadline Extended

Market Facilitation Payments Deadline Extended

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has extended the deadline for agricultural producers to apply for payments under the Market Facilitation Program. The trade mitigation program administered by the U.S. D. A to ease the burden on producers hurt by trade disputes with other countries.

The original deadline had been January 15, but farmers have been unable to apply for the program since the lapse in federal funding caused the closure of USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices on December 28.

In a statement sent to media Perdue said his agency will extend the application deadline for a period of time equal to the number of business days FSA offices were closed, once the government shutdown ends.

Meanwhile, The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) continues to provide uninterrupted inspection services at more than 6,200 meat and poultry facilities.

Acting Deputy Under-secretary Carmen Rottenberg

And many employees at the Food and Drug Administration are not furloughed because of their essential functions, from investigations to imports.

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