Nebraska Farm Organizations Say USDA Payments Will Help, But Won’t Fill Gaps

By Jolie Peal

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will pay farmers $30.88 per acre of soybeans and $44.36 per acre of corn as part of the new Farmer Bridge Assistance program. The federal assistance rates were announced quietly on New Year’s Eve as an olive branch to farmers who have suffered losses during trade disruptions in 2025.

As the Trump administration’s trade war with China hit a new height in 2025, many farmers, especially soybean farmers, lost out on export deals with the country. China is a key market for Nebraska agriculture producers. It made times especially tough, since farmers continue to see low commodity prices and high input costs.

In an attempt to offset the damage done, the federal government is giving $11 billion to farmers in 18 agriculture industries through the program. Mark McHargue, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau and a fourth generation farmer in Merrick County, said about $700 million of that will flow to Nebraska farmers, but it won’t cover all of their losses.

“They're appreciative of the dollars. They will put that to work,” McHargue said. “Those dollars will flow back into main street and our small communities around the state, but there will be additional need for dollars somewhere to ensure that they have viability long term.”

McHargue said he hopes to see other changes like year-round E-15 production and new trade agreements, both of which could help farmers fill those gaps.

Jason Lewis, a farmer in Hamilton County and member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association board and the national board, said any amount helps, but it doesn’t solve the main problems facing farmers.