The last two farm bills implemented in 1996 and 2002 contained provisions for nonrecourse marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments (LDP’s). In essence, these programs place floors under prices that farmers could receive at loan rates. When cash prices are below loan rates, farmers can receive LDPs. Another alternative is to use marketing loan provisions that allow producers (under certain conditions) to take out marketing loans on grain at loan rates. When cash prices are below loan rates, farmers can repay a 9-month nonrecourse commodity loan at less than the loan rate, plus accrued interest and other charges or receive an LDP in lieu of obtaining a loan. In other words, generally speaking, if local cash prices were below the commodity loan rate, producers could receive the difference through either a market loan gain or an LDP. If this was the case, most producers took advantage of the program by taking an LDP. Current loan rates in Illinois for corn, soybeans and wheat average about $2.06, $5.16 and $2.59 respectively. These rates vary by county.
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