Brazil surpassed the U.S. as the world's top beef producer last year, according to market estimates, after the South American country beat output forecasts by hundreds of thousands of tons,…
Lawmakers Eye at Least $15 Billion More in Farmer Aid
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported that “Congress has quickly engaged in putting together potential aid packages for farmers that would more than double the Trump administration’s $12 billion under the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program.”
“Politico reported Thursday three key Republican leaders in Congress met Wednesday to discuss adding $15 billion in farmer aid to appropriation bills Congress is looking to pass this month,” Clayton reported. “Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Pa., chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, met with Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture.”
“Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee also announced their own proposal Thursday, ‘The Farm and Family Relief Act,’ which would provide $17 billion in additional aid to farmers beyond FBA payments,” Clayton reported. “Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, is spearheading the bill. Democrats said the bill would provide ‘supplemental economic assistance to family farmers struggling with high input costs and market losses caused by President Trump’s tariffs and trade wars.'”
“The FBA, announced in December, provides $11 billion in payments to commodity farmers and sets aside $1 billion for specialty crops — fruit and vegetable growers — as well as sugar growers. Lawmakers from both parties have called for increasing the funds for specialty crop losses,” Clayton reported. “…Boozman, Thompson and Craig all spoke earlier this week at AFBF’s annual meeting about the need for additional aid and the potential of passing a farm bill in 2026.”
What’s in the Republican’s Plan?
Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported that “Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Ag-FDA subcommittee, met Wednesday with House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) to discuss a path forward for the package, the three men told POLITICO.”
“A final number is still up in the air, but they’re eyeing about $15 billion, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions who was granted anonymity to discuss the planning,” Yarrow reported. “The talks come after the Trump administration’s December announcement of $11 billion in aid for row crop farmers and $1 billion for specialty crop farmers.”
“Boozman said in a brief interview that the group is hoping to finalize the plan ‘fairly shortly,’ which will be crucial given the Jan. 30 deadline for passing the broader federal funding package,” Yarrow reported. “The three negotiators still need to get buy-in from GOP leadership in both chambers, according to the person close to the talks.”
What’s in the Democrat’s Plan?
Agri-Pulse’s Kim Chipman reported that “the (Democrat’s) legislation sets the stage for what is likely to be a partisan, election-year battle over farm assistance and trade policy as well as the SNAP cuts included in President Donald Trump’s signature domestic policy law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
“The legislation, the text of which is expected to be released next week, also would postpone by four years a cost shift from the federal government to states in providing food assistance and curb Trump’s ability to wage tariffs fights with key U.S. trade partners including Canada and Mexico,” Chipman reported. “Craig, who is running for a Senate seat in Minnesota, urged Republicans to back the measure in an upcoming federal funding package.”
It’s time for real relief for the American farmers and families Trump and Republicans left behind. pic.twitter.com/scbEak2H2k
— House Agriculture Committee Democrats (@HouseAgDems) January 15, 2026
“(House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’) Thompson (however) rejected the idea of delaying a requirement in the One Big Beautiful Bill for most states to start paying a share of food benefits costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” Chipman reported. “The Ag Committee chair noted the cost-share requirement doesn’t start until 2027 and that ‘good progress’ is being made in states preparing for the change.”
