Lawmakers Eye More Farm Aid on Top of USDA Bridge Assistance

Agriculture Committee leaders in the United States House of Representatives are looking to provide at least an additional $10 billion in farmer aid to supplement the recently announced Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. That additional aid would likely have to be driven by Congress, as a USDA undersecretary says it’s unlikely the agency will provide a second farmer aid package.

Congress Must Provide More Aid, House Ag Chair Says

Agri-Pulse’s Lydia Johnson reported that “Congress needs to provide at least $10 billion in additional aid to farmers to supplement the $12 billion being provided by the Trump administration through its Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, says House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson.”

“In an interview with Agri-Pulse on Tuesday, Thompson, R-Pa., said lawmakers need to provide payments to sectors such as dairy, timber and specialty crops,” Johnson reported. “The administration’s program is largely targeted to row crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and rice, although $1 billion has been set aside for other commodities.”

“‘I think it [Farmer Bridge Assistance Program payments] will open up opportunities for a lot of farmers and ranchers to get credit for next year, but it’s not enough,’ Thompson said,” according to Johnson’s reporting. “Thompson didn’t provide a timeline for moving a supplemental assistance package in Congress. Lawmakers have been looking at changes to USDA’s Section 32 authority which is funded through customs receipts. Under existing law, Congress couldn’t use Section 32 to spend more than $350 million on payments to farmers.”

“‘It’s got to be really just enough to make the bridge sustainable to 2026, but not an overreach. We don’t want to replace the market,’ Thompson said of a supplemental package,” Johnson reported.

USDA Official Says More Farmer Aid Unlikely from the Agency

Bloomberg’s Erin Ailworth reported that “the US Department of Agriculture is unlikely to do a second-round package of aid for struggling farmers struggling in the midst of trade tensions and low crop prices. That’s according to Richard Fordyce, an agency undersecretary, who spoke in an interview on Thursday and cited current budget constraints.”

“We’re kind of where we are and that’s kind of going to be it — just based on dollar availability’ at the USDA, Fordyce said in an interview with Bloomberg. He was unclear if Congress might step in to contribute more funds for additional aid,” Ailworth reported. “His comments come after the Trump administration last week announced a $12 billion bailout for farmers. Growers have responded to the funds by welcoming the relief, but saying that it’s unlikely to kickstart a lasting recovery for the American farm economy.”

“Meanwhile, Fordyce said the USDA next week plans to announce the crop-specific rates that will determine how much financial help individual farmers can expect from the aid package,” Ailworth reported. “Crop producers have been eager to know the per-acre rates that commodities like soybeans, corn, wheat, rice and sorghum will receive because it is key information they can use to talk to banks and lenders and plan for next year.”

Senators Say They’ll Defer to Trump Administration

Agri-Pulse’s Kim Chipman reported that “Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., says the administration will have to determine the dollar amount of any additional aid.”

“‘The administration is working on that,'” he said. Officials will first have to see how far the $11 billion for row crops and $1 billion for specialty crops announced last week goes, Boozman said,” according to Chipman’s reporting. “‘We ought to have a better picture in the next few weeks,’ he said, adding that he suspects the administration will determine more aid will be needed and Congress will have to act.”

“Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., also told Agri-Pulse he isn’t ready to talk about a firm number,” Chipman reported.