# USDA Launches Second Round of Trade Mitigation Payments

> USDA launched the second and final round of Market Facilitation Program payments on December 17, 2018, covering the second half of 2018 production for eligible commodities. The payments are intended to ease short-term cash flow problems from retaliatory tariffs.

- Date: 2018-12-17 · published 2018-12-17T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: policy · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/61569-usda-launches-second-round-of-trade-mitigation-payments
- Commodities: [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Sorghum](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SORGHUM.md)

## Why it matters

Direct cash payments support farm income but do not change supply or demand, so the effect on feed grain and oilseed prices is limited. Continued trade disputes still weigh on export demand.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: neutral
- CORN: neutral
- WHEAT: neutral
- SORGHUM: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2018-12-17 | [17 Questions and Answers on the USDA Trade Retaliation Mitigation Payments](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61572-17-questions-and-answers-on-the-usda-trade-retaliation-mitigation-payments.md) | +0.8% | +0.2% |
| WHEAT | 2020-11-10 | [U.S. Wheat Associates Submits Comments on International Trade Barriers to USTR - U.S. Wheat Associates](https://feedsoft.ai/events/50114-u-s-wheat-associates-submits-comments-on-international-trade-barriers-to-ustr-u.md) | -2.8% | +2.5% |
| WHEAT | 2025-12-08 | [Trump Administration Announces $12 Billion Farmer Bridge Payments for American Farmers Impacted by Unfair Market Disruptions \| USDA](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21481-trump-administration-announces-12-billion-farmer-bridge-payments-for-american.md) | -1.5% | -1.0% |
| WHEAT | 2018-10-01 | [Trade Aid Round Two: A Per-Acre Perspective \| Farm Bureau Intel Markets \| American Farm Bureau Federation](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62517-trade-aid-round-two-a-per-acre-perspective-farm-bureau-intel-markets-american.md) | +2.9% | +8.6% |
| WHEAT | 2023-01-01 | [A Trade Hope: The impact of the Black Sea Grain Initiative \| UNCCD](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14424-a-trade-hope-the-impact-of-the-black-sea-grain-initiative-unccd.md) | -0.7% | -6.9% |
| CORN | 2018-09-04 | [USDA Launches Trade Mitigation Programs \| USDA](https://feedsoft.ai/events/63024-usda-launches-trade-mitigation-programs-usda.md) | +0.5% | +1.8% |
| CORN | 2018-12-17 | [17 Questions and Answers on the USDA Trade Retaliation Mitigation Payments](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61572-17-questions-and-answers-on-the-usda-trade-retaliation-mitigation-payments.md) | +0.4% | +0.3% |
| CORN | 2019-11-15 | [USDA Issues Second Tranche of Market Facilitation Program](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56042-usda-issues-second-tranche-of-market-facilitation-program.md) | -0.7% | -2.8% |

## Sources

- sorghumgrowers.com: https://sorghumgrowers.com/2018/12/17/usda-approves-final-installment-of-market-facilitation-payments/
- usda.gov: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/12/17/usda-launches-second-round-trade-mitigation-payments

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.