Trump Announces Farm Aid, Releases $11 Billion Now, Reserves $1 Billion

Overview

• Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said $11 billion will go out immediately for covered crops under the new Farmer Bridge Assistance program, with $1 billion held for areas of greatest need.
• The White House said money will flow through the Commodity Credit Corporation and be offset by tariff revenue, with payments based on planted area, production costs, and other factors and targeted for distribution by February 28.
• Trump unveiled the package at a Washington event with producers of corn, cotton, sorghum, soy, rice, cattle, wheat, and potatoes alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
• Chinese purchases of U.S. soy have ticked up since an October understanding, reaching 2.25 million tonnes since October 30, though volumes remain below earlier expectations and prices are still weak.
• The plan supplements earlier USDA emergency payments that have already delivered more than $9 billion this year and echoes large trade-related farm supports from 2018–2019.