Lawmakers Eye at Least $15 Billion More in Farmer Aid

By Ryan Hanrahan

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.”