Perdue Speaks at Classic

by | Feb 28, 2020 | Ohio Country Journal

By Katie Dehlinger
DTN Farm Business Editor

SAN ANTONIO (DTN) — There was an important two-letter word in President Donald Trump’s tweet last week suggesting there could be a third round of trade assistance payments.

?It said ‘if,’? Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told farmers at Commodity Classic here on Friday. ?Let me clarify: My advice and counsel to him is the MFP payments were a trade-damage mechanism, and we used the CCC to make up for lost income based on the inability to trade. It was never designed as a price support program.?

He said the agency isn’t crafting a third round of Market Facilitation Program payments and advises farmers to plant for market.

?We believe we will see prices rise as these commodities start to flow again,? he said.

Perdue said he explained farmers’ perspective on trade to President Trump by making comparisons to the president’s real estate career. He asked Trump to suppose he was building a resort, and once he got through the entire planning process, the community said it didn’t want it and offered to pay his expenses.

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