Farm groups and Republican lawmakers from key agricultural states had long pushed for such a program. Its purpose is to help producers cover the costs of seeds, fertilizers, and other essential inputs for the upcoming season, as well as compensate for falling revenues — particularly among soybean growers, who are facing their third consecutive year of losses.
During a roundtable at the White House, Trump said the program would help farmers weather the turbulence triggered by his trade policies, including the conflict with China that has cost U.S. farmers billions of dollars.
“This support will provide farmers with the certainty they need as they bring this year’s harvest to market and plan for next year’s crops. It will also help them continue their efforts to keep food prices down for American families,” the president said.
According to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, $11 billion of the package will go to producers of major row crops — corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat, cotton, rice — as well as cattle and potato operations. Payments are expected to begin by February 28. An additional $1 billion is earmarked for fruits, vegetables, and other categories, with details still being finalized.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the program as a “liquidity bridge” — temporary support to ensure stability until farmers begin to see benefits from Trump’s trade deals and regulatory reforms.
Funding will come from the Commodity Credit Corporation, a discretionary USDA fund, partially offset by tariff revenue.
The White House also noted that payment calculations will depend on planted acreage, production costs, and other factors.
Democrats sharply criticized Trump’s policies. Senator Amy Klobuchar said the best way to help farmers “would be for the president to end his tariff taxes,” which triggered the current crisis.
Trump, meanwhile, promised to further ease regulatory pressure on farm machinery and urged equipment manufacturers, including John Deere, to lower prices. The company expressed support for the aid plan and said it is working to reduce equipment costs for farmers.
The president also said he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to increase China’s newly negotiated soybean purchases.
During his first term, Trump allocated about $23 billion in aid to farmers harmed by his trade disputes. This year, U.S. farmers are expected to receive nearly a record $40 billion in government payments, much of it from ad-hoc disaster and economic relief programs.
However, experts warn of difficult times ahead: according to estimates from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, U.S. net farm income could fall by more than $30 billion in 2026 due to declining government support and low crop prices.
PigUA.info based on reporting by thepigsite.com