Trump Announces $12 Billion Aid for Farmers

President Donald Trump announced a $12 billion aid package on Monday to support American farmers facing challenges from trade disputes and rising production costs, delivering the news during a White House roundtable attended by administration officials, lawmakers and producers of crops including soybeans, corn, sorghum, rice, wheat, cotton, potatoes and cattle.

The package, funded through tariff revenues and administered by the Department of Agriculture, allocates $11 billion to the newly created Farmer Bridge Assistance program. This initiative provides one-time payments to row crop farmers affected by foreign trade actions, inflation and market disruptions. An additional $1 billion targets producers of specialty crops not covered under the main program. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the funds aim to offer "certainty for farmers as they market this year's harvest and plan for next year's crops." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who joined Trump at the event, emphasized the need for such support, noting on Sunday that agriculture requires planning ahead for future planting seasons.

The announcement addresses ongoing pressures in the agricultural sector,...