As of October 27, a few days before the WHIP+ program sign-up closed, the USDA paid out more than $79.1 million to North Dakota farmers for the 2019 crop year and more than $14 million for 2018. In Minnesota, USDA paid $47.5 million for the 2019 crop year so far and $46.3 million for 2018. Texas A&M University Ag and Food Policy Center co-director Bart Fischer says it sounds like the USDA is still working through a backlog. “That’s been a huge challenge. I think a lot of this is the size and scope and the quality loss, in particular, is challenging.” As lawmakers return to Washington D.C., there may be more discussions of extending the WHIP program. “Midwest farmers had 2020 losses so there is an interest. Given the complicated nature of WHIP, there are discussions about ways Congress could simplify the program. I think we’ll be hearing more in the next month and a half.”
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