Justification Memo

United States
Department of
Agriculture

USDA

Farm Production
And Conservation
(FPAC)
Farm Service
Agency (FSA)
1400 Independence
Avenue, SW
Stop 0540
Washington, DC

20250-0540

DATE:

05/23/2019

TO:

Cortney Higgins
0MB Desk Officer

THROUGH:

Ruth Brown
USDA Information Collection Officer

FROM:

Richard Fordyce
FSA Administrator

SUBJECT:

Request for Emergency Approval for a New Information Collection
Package—Market Facilitation Program (MFP) 2019

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is currently implementing the new trade relief package
Market Facilitation Program (MFP) for 2019 agricultural commodities. FSA is
requesting emergency approval as soon as possible to provide payments quickly to the
producers and to correspond with publication of the rule and the Notice of Funds
Availability (NOFA) for the Trade Mitigation Program. Under MFP 2019, financial
assistance will be made available with respect to certain agricultural commodities under
section 5 of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c)
which authorizes CCC to assist in the disposition of surplus commodities and to increase
the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the
expansion of domestic markets or by developing or aiding in the development of new and
additional markets, marketing facilities, and uses for such commodities. The MFP 2019
payments will aid producers in the disposition of surplus commodities and aid in the
expansion of domestic markets or aid in the development of new and additional markets
and uses for the specific crops or commodities that are negatively impacted by actions of
foreign governments.
The final rule and NOFA wilt be published in the Federal Register to notify applicants of
MFP 2019 provisions. Up to 784,439 producers are expected to apply for payments
under MFP 2019. The MFP 2019 application (form CCC-910) will be processed at the
producer’s FSA county office. Producers are also required to complete forms FSA-578,
Report of Acreage; CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for Individual or Legal Entity; CCC941, Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to DiscLosure of
Tax Information; and AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and
Wetland Conservation Certification if not previously on file to receive payments.
FSA is requesting emergency approval of a new information collection package as soon
as possible, in order to quickly provide assistance to eligible producers. The collection
will be merged with the approved information collection of 0MB 0560-0292 for MFP.
If there are any questions or concerns, please call Deirdre Holder at 202-205-5851.
USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer