SPRINGFIELD – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Scherrie Giamanco has announced the marketing assistance loan (MAL) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) provisions authorized in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill) have been extended for the 2013 crop year with the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.

MALs and LDPs provide financing and marketing assistance for wheat, rice, feed grains, soybeans and other oilseeds, peanuts, pulse crops, cotton, honey and wool.

Assistance is available to eligible producers beginning with harvest or shearing season and extending through the program year.