A deadline for a program that helps farmers significantly affected by foreign tariffs has been extended. The USDA extended the Market Facilitation Program deadline from May 1st to May 17th. This gives producers more time to certify 2018 crop production payments. The extension was granted due to heavy rainfall and snowfall delaying harvests, preventing producers from certifying acres. The Market Facilitation Program provides payments to producers of corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, dairy, hogs, fresh sweet cherries and shelled almonds. Production can be certified through a producer’s local FSA office. The program was launched by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to help farmers struggling with trade retaliation by foreign nations. To date, more than $8.3 billion has been paid to nearly 600,000 applicants.