USDA’s Inspector General Phyllis Fong told lawmakers this week, her office is reviewing USDA’s authority to provide more than $20 billion in direct payments to producers without an appropriation from Congress via the Market Facilitation Program. Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman says there needs to be fixes to the MFP so those who most need the assistance get it.

He says there needed to be more public input and hearings prior to starting the MFP program.

Lehman says it will take some time to correct the measures needed to fix the MFP so it works properly, efficiently and fairly.

The Inspector General told the House Appropriations sub-committee that the first part of their review work should be coming in the next several months.