Farmer Aid Announcement Coming Next Week, Rollins Says

Reuters’ Trevor Hunnicutt, Bo Erickson and Leah Douglas reported that “Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Tuesday that the Trump administration will announce a ‘bridge payment’ for farmers next week that is designed to provide short-term relief while longer trade and aid packages are finalized.”

“Farm groups and Republican lawmakers have pushed the administration to issue aid as farmers face low crop prices and billions in lost soybean sales to China during tense trade talks between the two countries,” Hunnicutt, Erickson and Douglas reported. “‘We do have a bridge payment. We’ll be announcing with you next week,’ Rollins told Trump at a cabinet meeting at the White House.”

Rollins: We do have a bridge payment we will be announcing with you next week as we are still trying to recover Biden years.

Trump: To help the farmers. pic.twitter.com/oaQHyM3970

— Acyn (@Acyn) December 2, 2025

“Trump’s spending bill known as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ expanded some farm supports but farm groups say growers need additional money now to support planting for the next crop year,” Hunnicutt, Erickson and Douglas reported. “The U.S. government is already expected to spend more than $40 billion on payments to farmers in 2025, the second-highest amount since 1933, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, fueled by ad-hoc disaster and economic aid.”

Amount, Timing of Payments Remains Unknown

“John Boozman, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and John Hoeven of North Dakota, chair of the Senate agriculture appropriations committee, said they expect some aid to reach farmers by the end of the year, but are waiting on the administration to settle on the amount and timing,” Hunnicutt, Erickson and Douglas reported. “…Money for the aid will come from the Commodity Credit Corporation, a discretionary USDA funding pool, and the White House continues to look for additional funding sources, Boozman said.”

Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported that “at least two farm-state senators in recent days have questioned whether USDA has enough funds to cover farmers’ needs.”

“Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, speaking to reporters on a call Tuesday, said he doesn’t think USDA has the money needed to provide an aid payment,” Clayton reported. “‘There isn’t enough money in the Commodity Credit Corp. to reach $10 billion to $14 billion,’ he said. ”Congress is going to have to appropriate money.'”

“Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, told RFD-TV that the current economic challenges are some of the most difficult Kansas farmers have faced in the 28 years he’s been in Congress. He suggested more aid may be needed than USDA can provide,” Clayton reported. “‘I doubt these payments are sufficient,’ Moran said. He added, ‘It’s been a number of years since we had a good year, and farmers are just not prepared for the challenges that are out there today.'”

Aid Amount May be Smaller Due to New Trade Deals

Brownfield Ag News’ Nicole Heslip reported in mid-November that “the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture says trade deal negotiations during the shutdown could impact the possibility of farmer assistance this year. During a call with reporters on Monday, Stephen Vaden said dynamics have changed since the end of September.”

“‘Most notably, the President successfully negotiated trade deals almost everywhere the man went,’ he stressed,” according to Heslip’s reporting. “‘Whether we’re talking about China, but I equally want to pay attention to Southeast Asia, Pakistan, and Japan. Those have resulted in major commitments to buy American commodities.’ He says USDA will be considering its influence on commodity markets into the new year before any decisions are made about additional relief.”