The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is exploring ways to allow farmers who were unable to plant crops due to rains and wetlands to claim targeted assistance, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue said on Monday, June 10.
The ministry is exploring options that will allow farmers applying for “prevented landing” insurance policies to continue to be eligible for a partial payment of $ 16 billion in aid packages, Purdue said in a statement.
But farmers will have to plant a suitable cover crop, practiced, as a rule, to prevent soil erosion, the minister added.
“The USDA is not legally authorized to make payments under the Non-sown Area Market Assistance Program for Producers. However, we are exploring legal options to ensure a minimum payment for assistance in the acre market, ”said Purdue.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its aid package on May 23 to partially offset the losses caused by the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China.
US corn and soybean crops lag far behind normal levels, and the regional planting deadlines specified in the so-called sowing prevention policy have expired in many areas.
The USDA reports that additional details of the assistance program will be announced in the coming weeks.
