Additional Federal Aid Could Be Coming To Farm Country

Talks are underway in Congress for more farm aid as ag groups are sounding the alarm about an economic crisis in rural America.

Farm groups are now telling Hill leaders that the Ag industry face an “existential crisis” with losses nearing $100 billion, adding USDA’s $11 billion in bridge payments won’t save many.

House and Senate Ag chairs and the Senate Ag spending chair have met, and Politico reports discussed adding $15 billion to an appropriations bill Congress looks to pass this month.  House Ag Democrats led by Minnesota’s Angie Craig called for an extra $17 billion in their Farm and Family Relief Act.

“It provides additional one-time payments to family farmers being crushed by President Trump’s worldwide trade war," Craig said.  "I call upon my Republican colleagues to work with us to provide this Farmer and Family relief package in an upcoming appropriations package.”

House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson quickly rejected the slowed SNAP state-cost sharing part of the Democrats’ bill.  And its ending of Trump’s tariffs won’t fly with Republicans either.

But Senate Ag Chair John Boozman said farmer relief will happen.

"I think the commitments there, I think Congress will step up," Boozman said.  "The question’s how much, and we’ll be figuring that out in the next few weeks.”

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