White House announces $12B farm aid; payments due by late February as farmers seek more relief
President Trump on Monday unveiled a $12 billion one‑time farm aid package — funded through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation — that administration officials say directs roughly $11 billion through a new Farmer Bridge Assistance Program for row‑crop producers and about $1 billion for farmers whose crops do not qualify, announced at a White House roundtable with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The White House says payments should reach farmers’ bank accounts in late February, but farm groups and Black farmers warn the timing and size are insufficient to avert immediate loan and cash‑flow crises tied to tariff disruptions, even as the administration cites tariff revenue and recent China purchase pledges as enabling the relief.
📌 Key Facts
- The White House announced $12 billion in one-time farm aid, funded through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and unveiled at a Monday White House roundtable with President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, lawmakers and invited growers (corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, rice, cattle, wheat and potatoes).
- The administration clarified the package is roughly $11 billion delivered via a new USDA "Farmer Bridge Assistance Program" for one-time payments to row-crop farmers, plus about $1 billion for farmers whose crops do not qualify for the main program.
- The White House said aid payments should reach farmers' bank accounts in late February; farm groups and Black farmers warned that timeline may be too late to secure 2026 crop loans and to cover urgent bills due in December–January.
- The aid is tied to trade developments with China: officials said China agreed to buy at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by the end of February and 25 million metric tons annually over the next three years; reporting also noted recent purchases (about 840,000 metric tons for Dec.–Jan. and roughly 2.8 million metric tons since late October).
- Administration officials framed the funding as enabled by tariff revenue and defended tariffs as "leveling the playing field;" President Trump said the aid "would not be possible without the tariffs," and Treasury Secretary Bessent said bridge payments were needed, accusing Chinese negotiators of using U.S. soybean farmers "as pawns."
- Reaction among farmers and farm groups was mixed: some called the payments an important first step while many said the aid is insufficient, voicing a "trade, not aid" sentiment and reporting unsold soybeans and higher costs from elevated tariff rates on key inputs.
- Coverage placed the package in a broader economic context—consumer sentiment at multi‑decade lows, ISM new orders down for months, and some manufacturers cutting staff or moving production offshore amid tariff pressures—which exacerbates strains on farmers and rural economies.
- Equity concerns were raised: Black farmers warned that delayed payments could trigger loan and cash‑flow crises and highlighted that the administration eliminated the USDA "socially disadvantaged" designation (affecting programs such as 2501); USDA declined to comment.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2022, there were 46,738 producers who identified as Black, either alone or in combination with another race, accounting for 1.4% of all U.S. producers, while Black people made up 12.4% of the total U.S. population.
Black Producers — USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
The number of Black-owned farms in the U.S. has decreased from about 15% of all operations in 1920 to 1.5% in 2022.
Number of Black-owned farms has decreased drastically since 1900 — Investigate Midwest
In 2022, the average size of Black- or African-American-operated farms was 163 acres, compared to the national average farm size of 463 acres.
2022 Census of Agriculture: Black-operated farm size continues to increase — USDA Economic Research Service
In 2022, only 36% of Black farmers who applied for USDA direct loans were approved, compared to 72% of white farmers; 16% of Black applications were rejected, compared to 4% for white farmers.
In 2022, Black farmers were persistently left behind from the USDA's loan system — NPR
📰 Sources (7)
- Black farmers warn the February payment timeline may be too late to secure 2026 crop loans and cover immediate bills due in December–January.
- NPR reports the administration eliminated the USDA "socially disadvantaged" designation, affecting programs including the 2501 Program that Black farmers relied on; USDA declined comment.
- National Black Growers Council chair PJ Haynie says aid "needs to show up like Santa Claus" to avert loan and cash‑flow crises; on‑the‑ground examples detail strong yields still failing to cover loans due to retaliatory tariffs.
- White House says aid payments should reach farmers' bank accounts in late February.
- Farm groups’ reactions: Missouri Farm Bureau calls payments an important first step; South Dakota Farmers Union criticizes aid as insufficient given tariff-driven costs.
- "Trade, not aid" sentiment from soybean growers; on‑the‑ground reporting of unsold soybeans stored due to lost China sales.
- Administration’s November China deal specifics: China to buy 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by end of February and 25 million metric tons over the next three years.
- Trump publicly framed the farm‑aid funding as enabled by tariff revenue, saying: 'This money would not be possible without the tariffs.'
- White House spokesman Kush Desai said tariffs are 'leveling the playing field' and the administration is pursuing a 'nimble, nuanced, and multi‑faceted' reshoring approach.
- Axios reports the aid was announced at a Monday farmer roundtable (prior coverage previewed the unveiling).
- American Soybean Association economists warned last week that elevated tariff rates on key inputs are a significant cost factor, describing a 'precarious' financial situation.
- Context added: consumer sentiment hit a 74‑year low per University of Michigan; ISM shows new orders down for a third straight month, with some manufacturers cutting staff or moving production offshore due to tariffs.
- NPR reports the $12 billion will be funded through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
- Includes an on-the-record quote from White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly framing the aid and policy context.
- Confirms the announcement timing and participants at a White House roundtable (President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins).
- Announcement timing and format: White House roundtable at 2 p.m. EST with Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, lawmakers, and farmers.
- Participant/crop detail: growers from corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, rice, cattle, wheat, and potatoes invited.
- China purchase status: about 2.8 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans purchased since late October; officials cite a pledge of at least 12 million metric tons by year-end and 25 million metric tons annually for the next three years.
- Bessent quote on rationale: said on Face the Nation that bridge payments are needed and that Chinese negotiators 'used our soybean farmers as pawns.'
- Historical context: prior farm aid totaled over $22B in 2019 and nearly $46B in 2020 (including COVID aid).
- Breakdown clarified: ~$11B through the USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance Program for one-time payments to row-crop farmers and an additional $1B for farmers whose crops do not qualify.
- Event specifics: Trump to announce at a Monday White House roundtable with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
- Trade context: Following an October Trump–Xi meeting, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports reduced from 57% to 47% tied to fentanyl cooperation.
- China purchases: Reuters reported at least 840,000 metric tons of U.S. soybeans bought for Dec.–Jan. delivery, the largest since at least January.
- Bessent statement: China is on track to buy 12 million tons of soybeans by end of February 2026 and to keep 'every part of the deal.'