USDA plans to roll out a short-term “bridge payment” for farmers next week in a bid to help growers survive tight margins and trade-related losses.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed during a White House cabinet meeting on Tuesday that further details of the payments will be announced next week. While the Trump administration has not yet released the final dollar figure, several farm groups are estimating that the support package could total around $12 billion.
A key purpose of the payment is to cushion crop producers after a year of depressed prices and significant drops in U.S. soybean sales to China. While the broader 2025 farm support package has received roughly $40 billion in commitments, the second highest since the 1930s, farming groups say some producers need immediate liquidity to cover seed, fertilizer and other input costs ahead of 2026 planting.
Details, including how much each farmer may receive and which crops are eligible, remain unclear. Lawmakers expressed optimism that at least partial payments could be distributed before year’s end.
Source: NAFB News Service