The Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Committee has released a report claiming the Market Facilitation Program unfairly benefits big farms and producers in the southeast.

Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow alleges the formula used to calculate MFP payments picks winners and losers between regions and crops.

National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson agrees.  He says farmers in every county have been affected by withering export markets, but the county payment rates arbitrarily have helped farmers in some counties much more than others.

NFU claims while farmers in the North, Midwest, and West have experienced the greatest harm from trade disputes, 95 percent of counties receiving the highest payment rates are based in the southeast.

USDA defended its methods Tuesday, pointing out 60 percent of payments have gone to farmers in the Midwest.

The Senate report calls on the Trump Administration to improve its trade assistance program, and pursue a focused, consistent trade strategy to rebuild the markets American farmers lost.