NFU: Trade Aid Does Not Do Enough To Help Farmers Hurt By The Trade War

On Thursday, the USDA announced $16 billion in assistance for producers negatively impacted by the ongoing trade war with China.  After the USDA’s announcement, National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson said family farmers and ranchers have been grappling with low commodity prices and excess production for many years now.  Johnson added the trade war with China and other major trading partners has compounded both problems.

“We appreciate USDA’s work to mitigate family farmers’ losses as a result of these trade disputes. However, while this trade aid package is an improvement over last year’s Market Facilitation Program, by definition it fails to provide predictable, consistent and adequate relief across American agriculture.”

Johnson noted that the package is only a short-term fix for a very long-term problem.

“Farmers rely on markets to make a living. Our ongoing trade wars have destroyed our reputation as a reliable supplier and have left family farmers with swelling grain stores and empty pockets.”

Johnson said lawmakers need to look at providing the county’s struggling food producers with the certainty of a longer-term plan that also addresses the problem of oversupply.

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