THINKING ABOUT SIGNING UP FOR THE MARKET FACILITATION PROGRAM?

Lindsay Mitchell

Oct 05, 2018  |  Today's News |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

Sign up for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) began on September 3, but if you haven’t made it to your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office yet to sign on the dotted line, rest assured that you still have time.

 

Corn and soybean farmers can begin the sign-up process at any time but cannot complete the process until they are finished with harvest.  To finalize your MFP eligibility and trigger your payment, you must sign to certify your final 2018 yield.  Obviously, this requires that you have harvested every field and can accurately report the total yield for your family farm.

 

However, on a rainy day, you might choose to spend a few minutes signing up for an electronic account with the USDA, which you could finalize when you visit your local FSA office to certify your yield and which would allow you to electronically conduct business with your FSA office in the future.  The directions to sign up for an electronic account are as follows:

 

How to Sign Up for eAuth

 

Begin the process by reviewing the information at the USDA Website https://www.eauth.usda.gov.  This website describes the services available for Level 1 and Level 2 Accounts. Level 1 and Level 2 accounts require that you have an email address so you can register, create a customer profile, and be able to respond to a confirmation email. Level 1 Accounts do not require you to provide proof of your identity at a local USDA Service Center. Level 1 Accounts provide limited access to certain

USDA Web site portals that require no authentication or authorization. A Level 2 Account does require a visit to a USDA Service Center with proof of your identity. That is because a Level 2 account allows you access to complete and submit documents and forms electronically.

 

LEVEL 1 ACCOUNT

 

STEP 1. To obtain a Level 1 Account, you may self-register online at https://www.eauth.usda.gov/mainPages/index.aspx.  Scroll down and click on the button that says “Sign Up for a Level 1 Account.” Complete the brief customer profile.

 

STEP 2. You will receive a confirmation email, and you must respond to it within 7 days to activate your account.

 

LEVEL 2 ACCOUNT

 

STEP 1. To obtain a Level 2 Account, you must complete an 18 question customer profile and prove your identity by presenting state or federal photo ID at a local USDA Service Center. Go to www.eauth.egov.usda.gov, scroll down and click on “Sign Up for a Level 2 Account.” Complete your customer profile, which includes designating your user ID and password created by you, contact information and email information. The data you enter in your customer profile must match the data on the document you use as identification at your local USDA Service Center. Example: Your first and last names and address must match the government-issued photo ID you plan to use to prove your identity. Identify proof can only be verified by one of the following documents: Current

State Driver’s License, State Photo ID, US Military ID, or United States Passport.

 

STEP 2. After completing your customer profile and submitting it online, you will receive a confirmation email, and you must respond to it within 7 days to activate your account.

 

STEP 3. Then you must complete the “Identify Proofing” process by visiting a local USDA Service Center. You will be required to present the eligible photo ID to a USDA employee who will verify your identity and enter the expiration date of the ID document used.

 

STEP 4. The USDA employee then will update your customer profile to a Level 2 Account. You will have access to USDA online applications and forms within one hour of your account being updated.

 

You now have access to complete and submit documents and forms electronically. USDA continues to update and make more forms and programs available electronically.