800 326 9054Here is how top policymakers and major farm groups reacted to the White House announcement Monday that farmers will receive $12 billion in “bridge” payments to compensate them for export losses and depressed commodity prices.
Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark. – “Delivering this farm assistance will bridge the gap until farmers realize the benefits of the recent trade deals and the One Big Beautiful Bill that will provide the certainty they need,” Boozman said. “This announcement provides much needed relief to rural America.”
“My colleagues and I remain focused on the state of farm country and are prepared to pursue additional steps to ensure a strong future for farm families,” Boozman added.
Senate Ag Committee ranking member Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. –“While we need to help farmers who have been hurt by the President’s across-the-board tariffs, ultimately farmers want trade — not aid. The easiest way to give our farmers more certainty would be for the President to end his tariff taxes,” Klobuchar said. “This assistance will clearly benefit some farmers now, but a one-time payment is not a long-term fix — only restoring these markets can do that.”
House Ag Committee Rranking member Angie Craig, D-Minn. – “After two months of promises from the administration, I’m disappointed that the president can find $40 billion to bail out Argentina and its farmers but find far less to help Americans here at home,” Craig said. “This farm aid package picks winners and losers in the farm economy. It lacks the certainty farmers need. It will not reduce high operation costs. It will not bring U.S. agricultural exports back to pre-trade war levels.”
“We will be right back here a year from now unless the administration changes its policies,” Craig added.
House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, R-Pa. – “The critical assistance announced today will help farmers obtain financing for 2026 and serve as a bridge to the long-term improvements to the farm safety net, which were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill.”
American Farm Bureau Federation – “Farmers are grateful to President Trump and Secretary Brooke Rollins for providing resources that, for many, could make the difference between staying in business to plant another crop, or shuttering a family farm,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We appreciate that Congress addressed many economic challenges in legislation earlier this year, but many farm program improvements will not kick in until next year. The assistance announced today will make an immediate impact by providing a lifeline for farmers who work to ensure a healthy, safe and abundant food supply.”
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance – ““We are disappointed that specialty crop growers were not included in today’s announcement,” wrote Alliance cochairs Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association; Mike Joyner, President of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers; and Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council.
“As we wrote to the President on October 6, 2025, family farms that produce safe and nutritious fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts, as well as cultivate the trees, flowers, and plants that play a vital role in the nation’s health and wellbeing, continue to face unprecedented economic challenges. We stand ready to work with the Administration and Congress to advance a meaningful assistance package to support specialty crop growers during this difficult period,” the group added.
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives – “While we commend the Trump administration’s action today, USDA is now at the limit of what it can do without further congressional action. Therefore, we urge lawmakers to do their part and pass any needed additional assistance, ideally as part of finishing a new farm bill.”
National Farmers Union – “Short-term payments, while important, are only a first step. What we truly need are long-term structural fixes that restore viability and stability to family farms and ranches for generations to come,” said NFU president Rob Larew. “In real-time, we are experiencing the consequences of farm policy that is woefully outdated. The farm safety net can’t keep up with today’s economic realities.”
“That is why NFU is committed to working with Congress to design a new farm bill that reflects today’s realities,” Larew added.
American Soybean Association – “While we await additional details, we believe the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program is a positive first step to restore certainty as soybean farmers market this year’s crop and plan for the 2026 planting season,” said Kentucky farmer and American Soybean Association president Caleb Ragland. “We look forward to working with Congress and the administration on broader support for the farm economy, including long-term, market-driven solutions that strengthen demand for U.S. soy and allow farmers to compete and thrive in the global market.”
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National Association of Wheat Growers – “Wheat growers have endured another year of market adversity and rising input costs. NAWG is encouraged to see the Trump administration delivering much needed assistance to farmers through a simple program for FSA to implement. Right now, timely assistance is critical for farms to make it to 2026. We look forward to working with Congress and the administration to build a policy and regulatory environment where family farms can thrive, not just survive,” said NAWG President Pat Clements.
National Corn Growers Association – “While we await additional details to assess the impact that the farmer bridge assistance program will have on corn growers, we also need immediate market-based solutions,” said Jed Bower, an Ohio corn grower and president of the National Corn Growers Association. “Congress can quickly take a first step in that direction by passing the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025. The legislation would expand access to fuel with 15% ethanol blends year-round, increasing demand for corn for ethanol and saving consumers money at the pump.”
National Cotton Council – “The $12 billion in assistance under the Department of Agriculture’s newly designed Farmer Bridge Assistance program demonstrates a firm commitment to an industry that has faced challenges due to high production costs and trade disruptions.”
Association of Equipment Manufacturers – “The economic assistance program announced today is a shot in the arm for farmers and ranchers until investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act come into full effect next year,” said Kip Eideberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations at AEM. “Equipment manufacturers remain committed to helping our customers navigate trade disruptions and geopolitical tensions.”
National Sorghum Producers – Board members Garrett Love of Kansas and Barry Evans of Texas attended the Monday White House announcement. “Today’s announcement reinforced how important this support is for farmers across the country, and I’m grateful for the Administration’s commitment to getting assistance out quickly,” Evans said in a statement.
“This support through the FBA [Farm Bridge Assistance] Program will be vital for producers in the short term, and we are grateful it is moving quickly,” Love added. “Sorghum farmers are working hard to plan for next year, and this bridge will help keep operations steady as we transition into a new planting season.”
Others:
Arkansas Farm Bureau President Dan Wright – “For the past three years, many row crop, specialty crop and timber producers have operated at a loss. A program that provides roughly $50 an acre will not save the thousands of family farms that will go bankrupt before the end of the year.”
R Street Institute – “Farmers have been dealt a bad hand by the current administration’s disorderly trade policies. But they are not alone or uniquely put-upon. Every day Americans, consumers, and businesses both large and small face the same intolerable price increases, supply chain disruptions, and ongoing uncertainty,” said R Street Fellow Nan Swift.
Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. – “Today’s farm assistance package is welcome news as we work to get the farm economy back on track,” said Fischer, who attended the White House roundtable. “I look forward to continuing to partner with the administration to expand trade opportunities that will create strong markets for Nebraska’s ag products.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. – “Trump wants credit for trying to fix a mess of his making. Trump’s tariffs are hammering our farmers, making it more expensive to grow food and pushing farmers into bankruptcy,” Schumer wrote in a post on X. “Farmers need markets to sell to—not a consolation prize for the ones he wrecked.”
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig – “Let’s be clear: farmers want reliable markets for their products, not government aid. We urgently need to secure new, expanded, and fairer trade deals that grow market access for U.S. ag products around the globe, which the Administration has made a top priority,” Naig said. “We also need Congress to pass a modernized Farm Bill, aggressively expand year-round nationwide access to E15, and address the root causes of historically high fertilizer costs.”
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