President Donald Trump unveiled a $12 billion economic assistance package for American farmers, funding it through tariff revenues. The aid aims to provide certainty for farmers as they bring this year’s harvest to market and prepare for the next growing season.
The program will distribute $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row-crop farmers, with the remaining funds allocated to other crops at a later stage, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Payments are expected to begin by February 28, and farmers will soon learn their eligibility and amounts.
Trump emphasized that the goal is not simply to provide aid but to strengthen farmers through fair trade policies. The announcement comes in the wake of trade tensions with China and other nations, which disrupted agricultural exports and prompted recent negotiations on soybean purchases and rare-earth exports.
This package mirrors a similar $12 billion relief plan from 2018 during prior trade disputes and reflects ongoing efforts to support farmers amid economic and regulatory challenges.
