US President Donald Trump has unveiled a $12 billion aid package to support American farmers struggling with falling crop prices and the impact of his trade policies. Announced at the White House alongside Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the Farmer Bridge Assistance program allocates $11 billion for row crop farmers—growing corn, soybeans, and cotton—while reserving $1 billion for specialty crops. Funds will be available by the end of February, with payments capped at $155,000 per farm and limited to operations earning less than $900,000 annually. The initiative is designed to protect smaller producers hardest hit by rising input costs, retaliatory tariffs, and market disruptions.
Trump emphasized that the aid will maximize domestic production and help reduce grocery prices, highlighting his administration’s focus on economic recovery and rural support. The program will be funded through tariff revenues, with the USDA calculating per-acre payments based on production costs. Farmers can begin applying in the coming weeks, with the first disbursements scheduled for February 28.
The package comes amid US-China trade tensions, which have halved soybean exports to China and driven up fertilizer costs. Experts note that while the aid provides temporary relief, long-term challenges persist, including high farm debt, small-scale farm consolidation, and inflationary pressures on food staples. Analysts caution that structural solutions are needed to restore market stability, rather than relying solely on government bailouts.
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