The United States Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline to May 17 for ag producers to certify their 2018 crop production for pending Market Facilitation Program payments. Previously, the deadline had been May 1.

The program is intended to help producers impacted by foreign tariffs that caused loss of exports.

The deadline was extended by the USDA Farm Service Agency because heavy rain and snow delayed harvests in parts of the country. The delays prevented producers from certifying their acres for 2018.

Producers must certify the 2018 crop by May 17 in order to receive eligible payments, which are based on certified total production multiplied by the MFP rate for each type of crop. The program covers corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, dairy products, hogs, fresh sweet cherries and shelled almonds.

MPF payments are intended to provide short-term relief from tariffs as a supplement to other farm programs according to Richard Fordyce, Administrator for FSA.

“We want to make sure producers who want to finalize their MFP application have an opportunity,” said Fordyce.

The program was implemented in September 2018, and has distributed over $8 billion to more than 600,000 applicants.

Production can be certified at local FSA offices. Information about the program is available at www.farmers.gov/MFP.