The Trump administration still intends to roll out an initial payment of up to $12 billion for farmers who are struggling because of the President’s tariff policies according to a report from Politico.
Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) said that a program similar to the $28 billion farmer bailout that Trump released during his first term is “all teed up and good to go.” Hoeven added that it’s being held up by the ongoing government shutdown, which is also what U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Hoosier Ag Today last Thursday during her visit to Indiana.
Rollins also confirmed last Thursday that a plan for farm aid distribution is currently being ironed out.
“That money that has been identified will be there. We are analyzing right now, exactly what this means. The plan is being put together. I don’t know that, right now, at this moment, we know exactly what that looks like. I mean, we’re in harvest right now, so we’ll see what the market does, and we will be ready to continue to step, in if in fact, we believe it’s necessary,” said Rollins.
There is already a great deal of pressure on lawmakers and the White House, who’ve been trying for months to pull together some financial help for farmers while opening up additional trade markets. Farmers are stuck trying to plan for 2026 while facing tariff uncertainty, high production costs for fertilizer and machinery, rising inflation pressure, and other economic challenges.
The USDA recently moved $13 billion into an account designed to provide emergency relief for farmers.
Source: Politico
