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USDA urges farmers to “plant for the market”

The USDA is urging farmers not to make planting decisions based on speculation about what a potential trade mitigation package will contain.

Here is the statement issued by the USDA on Tuesday:

“Details on the new farming support program will be forthcoming shortly, but we want to be clear that the program is being designed to avoid skewing planting decisions one way or another. Farmers should continue to make their planting and production decisions with the current market signals in mind, rather than some expectation of what a farming support program might or might not look like based on inaccurate media stories.”

Under Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said much the same thing when speaking to reporters a few days ago. Northey said the USDA did not want the program to influence planting decisions.

“So I would remind farmers—plant for the market. Don’t plant for a package that’s yet to be decided what it is,” Northey said.

Various media outlets are reporting that the trade aid package could be unveiled yet this week.