(SPARKS, Nev.) -
September 09, 2019The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a Market Facilitation Program (MFP) to aid farmers and ranchers whose commodities have been directly impacted by foreign tariffs. The program, which is administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), includes dairy production and certain feed crops, both of which are top commodities in Nevada.
“This new federal program makes funding available to Nevada producers that may not have been eligible for funding in the past – especially dairies and alfalfa farms, two of our largest agricultural industries,” Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Jennifer Ott, said.
Applications may be submitted through Dec. 6, 2019. Per-acre non-specialty crop county payment rates, specialty crop payment rates, and livestock payment rates are all currently available on www.farmers.gov. The program provides payments ranging from $15 to $150 per acre to eligible producers of non-specialty crops (including alfalfa hay). Dairy production and feed crops like alfalfa hay are top exports in several Nevada counties, including: Churchill, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Nye and White Pine Counties*.
“The MFP is important for the continued economic development of our agriculture industry in Nevada,” Director Ott said. “In 2017*, Nevada agriculture production output totaled $916 million, and the value of agriculture commodities exported from Nevada was $699 million.”
More information about eligibility requirements, payment rates, specific commodities covered and how to apply are available through USDA at www.farmers.gov, or by contacting the Nevada State FSA office.
2017 production and export values by county*
Churchill County
- Total agriculture production output: $133 million
- Total exports: $148 million
Elko County
- Total agriculture production output: $118 million
- Total exports: $132 million
Eureka County
- Total agriculture production output: $32 million
- Total exports: $28 million
Humboldt County
- Total agriculture production output: $108 million
- Total exports: $98 million
Lander County
- Total agriculture production output: $21 million
- Total exports: $18 million
Lincoln County
- Total agriculture production output: $37 million
- Total exports: $32 million
Lyon County
- Total agriculture production output: $150 million
- Total exports: $166 million
Nye County
- Total agriculture production output: $53 million
- Total exports: $49 million
White Pine County
- Total agriculture production output: $37 million
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Total exports: $31 million
*Data provided from the 2019 Economic Analysis of the Food and Agriculture Sector in Nevada.
About the Nevada Department of Agriculture
The Nevada Department of Agriculture promotes a business climate that is fair, economically viable and encourages environmental stewardship that serves to protect food, fiber and human health and safety through effective service and education. The NDA includes the five divisions of Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Equitability, Food and Nutrition and Plant Industry.