News

’20 outlook much darker without MFP

The president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers says the outlook for 2020 would be far different if it weren’t for the Market Facilitation Program.

“I think it would be dismal.”

Jamie Beyer, who farms north of Wheaton in west-central Minnesota, tells Brownfield several producers have told her MFP payments were their only profit the past two years.

“And I don’t know what happens moving forward. I think we’re all just trying to sort through this China deal and figure out if this is a good enough deal to replace that because we’d rather have trade than aid.”

USDA officials continue to indicate a third tranche of MFP2 payments will be distributed shortly.  But Ag Secretary Perdue has also told producers not to expect trade aid for 2020 and beyond now that China and the U.S. have signed the phase one trade agreement.

Brownfield interviewed Beyer at the 2020 MN Ag Expo in Mankato, Minnesota Thursday.