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Corn growers eligible for ECAP funds, Iowa Corn says

The vice president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association says he’s pleased USDA is making economic assistance a priority.

The agency recently released the first $10 billion in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) funds, and Mark Mueller tells Brownfield, “We are happy to receive the money. As you well know, the farming economic forecast has been pretty bleak for a year or two and it’s going to be bleak for the near future.”

USDA says the assistance will be based on planted and prevented plant acres for eligible commodities in the 2024 cropping year.

Mueller says corn growers are eligible for the program with a payment rate of $42.91 per acre. “You are walking a tightrope whenever you farm. Most things are beyond your control. I am grateful for the assistance we will be receiving.”

The deadline to sign-up for assistance is August 15th.

Initial payments will be factored by 85% to ensure the total program does not exceed the funding provided by Congress. Once the sign-up period ends in August, USDA may provide a second payment if additional funds are still available.