US President Donald Trump has unveiled a $12 billion (£9 billion) farm aid package aimed at helping farmers impacted by low crop prices and the administration's ongoing trade wars.
Most of the money – $11 billion – is earmarked for one-time payments to farmers for row crops as part of the agriculture department's Farmer Bridge Assistance programme, with another billion reserved for crops not covered by the programme.
While farmers have broadly supported Trump, the agriculture sector has been disrupted by trade disputes during his second term, particularly with China.
Also on Monday, Trump threatened to hit Mexico with an additional 5% tariff in a row over water supplies to US farmers.
The White House says the aid package will help farmers suffering from years of unjustified trade actions and accumulated inflation.
Trump made the announcement during an event at the White House, alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Members of Congress and various farmers were also in attendance.
Maximising domestic farm production is a big part of how we will make America affordable again and bring down grocery prices, Trump said.
Sorghum and soybean farmers have been hit hard by the Trump administration's trade dispute with China, the greatest importer of their crops.
According to a White House official, the payments are intended to help farmers market this year's harvest and plan for next year's crops, as well as act as a bridge until the administration's policies deliver a better market environment.
Rollins added that the last $1 billion would be held back to keep track of the state of specialty crops.
When asked if further farm aid packages were planned, Trump said it depends on market development.
The announcement comes as polls suggest Americans are increasingly concerned about rising costs, a sentiment that Trump has previously dismissed as politically motivated.
Mark Legan, a livestock, corn, and soybean farmer, noted that the government aid would help alleviate some financial pressure but does not solve persistent issues with production costs and shrinking export markets.
In the past, aid packages during Trump's first administration included $22 billion and another $46 billion in 2020.
Overall, farmers have shown mixed feelings about the aid, hoping it can stabilize their immediate needs while expressing a desire for a more predictable market.
The effectiveness of this latest aid package will unfold as farmers navigate their financial challenges in the current agricultural landscape.
