The Wall Street Journal’s Patrick Thomas reported that “
Uncle Sam is slated to fork over more money than ever to help ease American farmers’ economic woes. The Agriculture Department earlier this year estimated that direct payments to farmers would hit $44 billion in 2026. That meant government payments could account for more than a quarter of projected net farm income, a broad measure of farmers’ profits.”
But “that was before President Trump (this past) Wednesday asked Congress to approve $11 billion in funding, largely to help farmers deal with effects from the war with Iran,” Thomas reported. “If approved, government payments to farmers this year could hit a record high.”
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In fact,
Reuters’ Leah Douglas reported that “
if the White House request is approved, the administration would be forecast to send about $55.4 billion in direct payments to farmers this year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. That would comprise roughly 33% of total farm income in 2026, the highest level in direct payments since 2001, according to Wesley Davis, a partner at Meridian Agribusiness Advisors, an agricultural economics consultancy.”
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Thomas reported that “government funding has played a bigger role supporting farm incomes over the past decade, with trade war-related payouts during Trump’s first and second terms; rescue funding through the Covid-19 pandemic; and checks to help farmers deal with low crop prices. During this year’s conflict in the Middle East, farmers have had to shell out more cash for fuel to run equipment and fertilizer for planting.”
“Trade groups representing farmers have pushed for more aid, saying it is vital to keep American agriculture afloat,” Thomas reported. “But some economists and industry analysts are raising concerns about the stepped-up government payments, saying it isn’t clear how much is required to maintain U.S. agricultural production.”
“‘At some point, low prices have to cure low prices,’ said Susan Stroud, an agriculture analyst and founder of No Bull Agriculture, a market research and consulting firm,” according to Thomas’ reporting. “‘What we’re doing is ultimately encouraging more production.'”
“Many farmers don’t want more government checks but can’t turn them down either, said Chuck Read, a fifth-generation farmer near Princeton, Ill,” Thomas reported. “…’I think they’ve hurt us more than they’ve helped us,’ he said about government bailouts to farmers. ‘Even though farm country is pro-Trump still, this is socialism stuff.'”
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The Hagstrom Report’s Jerry Hagstrom reported that “after the White House on Wednesday called on Congress to pass $11.1 billion in aid to farmers in a supplemental appropriations bill, Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Hoeven, R-N.D., told The Hagstrom Report he would work with his colleagues to ‘meet the needs’ of producers.”
“Hoeven did not say whether he was satisfied with the White House request for $11.1 billion. There have been reports that Senate Republicans want as much as $17.3 billion in aid,” Hagstrom reported. “In an email, Hoeven said, ‘We appreciate President Trump and [Agriculture] Secretary [Brooke] Rollins recognizing the challenges facing our producers and including agriculture assistance in the administration’s supplemental request. Now, we’ll work with our colleagues in Congress to advance the supplemental and secure support to meet the need for our producers providing a bridge until the agriculture updates in the Working Families Tax Cut Act come fully into play in October.'”
“On X, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., also said he would work with his colleagues on the request,” Hagstrom reported.