President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping US$12 billion economic assistance package for American farmers, aimed at easing financial pressure on the agriculture sector amid trade disruptions and rising production costs. Reuters+2News-Times+2
Speaking at a White House roundtable with agriculture officials and lawmakers on Monday 8th of Dec, Trump described U.S. farmers as “the backbone of the country,” and linked the aid plan to efforts to “bring down grocery prices” for American families by boosting domestic farm production. Anadolu Ajansı+2The Guardian+2
How the Aid Will Be Distributed
Of the $12 billion, approximately $11 billion is earmarked for one-time payments to row-crop farmers (corn, soybeans, wheat and other staple crops), while the remaining funds will support growers of specialty crops such as fruits and vegetables. Reuters+2Dallas News+2
The payments — described by officials as “bridge assistance” — are designed to help farmers manage the financial strain from tariffs, higher input costs and weakened export demand, particularly following prolonged tensions with key trading partners. The Washington Post+2The Washington Post+2
Intent and Challenges Ahead
Trump and administration officials say the aid is a temporary safety net, giving farmers time to adjust while long-term trade and regulatory reforms take effect. The Washington Post+1
Critics caution that while the infusion may ease immediate hardship, it doesn’t address systemic challenges such as volatile global markets, trade uncertainties and rising costs — factors many say require structural reforms rather than repeat bailouts. The Guardian+1
What’s Next
The new payments are expected to be disbursed by the end of February 2026, offering timely financial relief to farmers ahead of the next planting season.
President Trump White House Press Conference Picture by White House Media Team
