Farm Aid Package Not Enough

Farm Aid Package Not Enough

Rick Worthington
Rick Worthington
Farmers hit with dropping prices for crops and livestock in retaliation for U.S. tariffs received word the Trump administration has put together a $12 billion aid package. However, some are saying it isn't nearly enough, and they'd prefer to see the trade war end.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the package will include a mix of direct payments to farmers, commodity purchases for nutrition programs and increased promotion of new U.S. export markets.

John Heisdorffer is a farmer and president of the American Soybean Association, and acknowledged farmers' anxieties.

"We appreciate the president and the secretary rolling this out," he said. "Yes, it's a help, but it gets a long ways from taking care of the problems over the loss that we incurred."

The aid package comes as Congress continues to debate the Farm Bill, set to expire in September. Heisdorffer says farmers would like to see better trade balance between the United States and other countries, but he noted that the price of soybeans already has dropped off the table since tariffs were first announced.

"We need to get the Farm Bill done, and on time, so that gives a little certainly to farmers," he said. "And then secondly, we need to get NAFTA or some other trade agreement finished up."

Similar comments have been made by other farm organizations as uncertainty swirls around trade negotiations with both Mexico and China.

Previous ReportWomen's Leadership Committee
Next ReportAmbassador Robert Lighthizer