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Perdue defends MFP payments after GAO report
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue stands by his word that Midwest farmers received their fair share of money through the Market Facilitation Program.
A recent report by the Government Accountability Office investigated how MFP funds were used to help farmers impacted by unfair trade practices. Ranking member of the Senate Ag committee Debbie Stabenow says the report shows payments were distributed unfairly with Perdue’s home state of Georgia receiving the most payments per operation.
“These were trade differences. The cotton acres payment there was more payment per acre. But we sent her the facts. Most of the payment came to the Midwest. The only, because of a per county rate, that’s what they’re talking about. The per county rate based on crops which were cotton and not row crops there.”
Perdue told reporters at a forum in central IL Monday Midwest farmers got the bulk of the money. He says the report is just part of politics during an election year.
