The administration announced a one-time $12 billion assistance package for farmers, aimed at producers of soybeans, corn and other row crops affected by this year’s tariff increases. The plan was unveiled at a White House roundtable attended by impacted growers and by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Officials said the funds will come from the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation and are intended to help farmers bridge the gap while the administration’s trade deals, tax changes and other economic policies take effect. The effort has been dubbed the Farm Bridge Assistance program.
President Trump framed the aid as coming from a portion of revenue tied to his tariff program and stressed his support for farmers, saying the administration would redirect some of that revenue to provide economic assistance. A White House spokeswoman, Anna Kelly, said the program reflects the President’s commitment to helping farmers get support while the administration’s policies are implemented, contrasting that approach with the previous administration.
The announcement arrives as many row-crop producers face falling corn and soybean prices alongside rising input costs. Tariffs have increased costs for certain farm inputs, including machinery and fertilizer, and the President said he would seek regulatory changes, including rolling back some environmental rules on large agricultural equipment, to lower equipment costs. Manufacturers have reported tariff-related impacts; John Deere estimated earlier this year that tariffs could cost the company about $600 million in 2025. The USDA payments are described as temporary relief while broader trade and economic measures take effect.