Trump Administration Announces $11 Billion in Aid for Farmers
The Trump administration has announced its financial aid package for farmers. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins outlined the assistance. 鈥淲e are going to be effectuating an $11 billion bridge payment to our farmers,鈥 she says. 鈥淭he money will move by February 28th of 2026.鈥
Rollins says by the end of December, eligible farmers will know what their payment is.
鈥淪o as you are going to your lender, as you are working to ensure and understanding what you can plant for next year, you will have that number in hand,鈥 she says. 鈥淎nd we will continue to talk to our farmers, continue to understand exactly what this looks like and what is necessary.鈥
The Secretary says the $11 billion announced Monday is for row crops, and the remaining $1 billion allocated is being held in reserve at this time. 鈥淪ome specialty crops and others that we are still working with to best understand where they are in the farm economy and ensure that we鈥檙e making every forward moving position that we need to,鈥 Rollins says.
Cordt Holub a Tama County Iowa farmer who took part in the round table with the President says the bridge payment is an early Christmas present for farmers. 鈥淲ith this bridge payment, we鈥檒l be able to farm another year, help us get by,鈥 he says.
Colub also expressed the need for year-round E-15.
鈥淚 think we can have a lot of domestic product used here in the country, and we can keep America first, and you鈥檙e good at that,鈥 he says. That is who you are.鈥 Trump asked if E-15 was a big deal. To that, Holub replied, 鈥淓-15 is a great deal, year-round鈥. Trump said, 鈥淥kay.鈥
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig of Minnesota says the farm aid package picks winners and losers in the farm economy. She says it will not reduce higher operation costs, and it will not bring U.S. ag exports back to pre-trade war levels.
Committee Chair Glenn G.T. Thompson says the assistance announced Monday will help farmers obtain financing for 2026 and serve as a bridge to the long-term improvements to the farm safety net, which were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill.
Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar says the one-time payment will benefit some farmers now, but it is not a long-term fix. She says the only way to do that is to restore markets.
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