US farmers will receive a boost of $12 billion in federal aid under the latest administration initiative from President Trump, but many are still grappling with the economic impacts of the trade war.
Gene Stehly, a Minnesota farmer who exports corn and soybeans to China, expressed concerns that the latest payment would not be enough to cover his losses. "Maybe this will all come out to be better at the end, but I can tell you right now, it certainly isn’t the case at the moment," he said.
The aid package represents a significant increase from previous government support measures during Trump's first term, which provided $22 billion in 2019 and $46 billion in 2020. However, farmers say that this new payment will only provide temporary relief rather than addressing their long-term concerns about lower commodity prices, rising costs, and declining sales.
Charlie Radman, a fourth-generation farmer from Minnesota, said the aid package was "a bridge" but not a solution to the industry's problems. "What we really want to have is a little more certainty and not have to rely on these ad hoc payments," he added.
The trade war with China has had a devastating impact on American soybean and sorghum farmers, who typically export at least half of their crops. Trump's deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October was touted as a success by the administration, but Chinese officials have been tight-lipped about the details of the agreement.
China has so far purchased only one-quarter of the 12 million metric tons of soybeans that US officials said would be purchased before the end of February. Even if China does follow through on its commitment to buy 25 million metric tons annually in the next three years, it will only bring American farmers near to their pre-Trump levels.
Farmers say they need more demand for their products and are pushing for the administration to focus on opening up new markets outside of China. Dan Keitzer, a soybean and corn farmer from Iowa, said that the industry needs "more customers" to justify its investments in technology and bigger harvests.
The $12 billion aid package will be capped at $155,000 per farmer or entity, and only farms making less than $900,000 in adjusted gross income will be eligible. Large farms have found ways around these limits in previous government support measures.
Trump has signed an executive order to investigate anti-competitive practices in the food supply chain, which could benefit farmers by reducing costs. However, many farmers are skeptical about the impact of this initiative and remain concerned about the long-term effects of the trade war on their industry.
Gene Stehly, a Minnesota farmer who exports corn and soybeans to China, expressed concerns that the latest payment would not be enough to cover his losses. "Maybe this will all come out to be better at the end, but I can tell you right now, it certainly isn’t the case at the moment," he said.
The aid package represents a significant increase from previous government support measures during Trump's first term, which provided $22 billion in 2019 and $46 billion in 2020. However, farmers say that this new payment will only provide temporary relief rather than addressing their long-term concerns about lower commodity prices, rising costs, and declining sales.
Charlie Radman, a fourth-generation farmer from Minnesota, said the aid package was "a bridge" but not a solution to the industry's problems. "What we really want to have is a little more certainty and not have to rely on these ad hoc payments," he added.
The trade war with China has had a devastating impact on American soybean and sorghum farmers, who typically export at least half of their crops. Trump's deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October was touted as a success by the administration, but Chinese officials have been tight-lipped about the details of the agreement.
China has so far purchased only one-quarter of the 12 million metric tons of soybeans that US officials said would be purchased before the end of February. Even if China does follow through on its commitment to buy 25 million metric tons annually in the next three years, it will only bring American farmers near to their pre-Trump levels.
Farmers say they need more demand for their products and are pushing for the administration to focus on opening up new markets outside of China. Dan Keitzer, a soybean and corn farmer from Iowa, said that the industry needs "more customers" to justify its investments in technology and bigger harvests.
The $12 billion aid package will be capped at $155,000 per farmer or entity, and only farms making less than $900,000 in adjusted gross income will be eligible. Large farms have found ways around these limits in previous government support measures.
Trump has signed an executive order to investigate anti-competitive practices in the food supply chain, which could benefit farmers by reducing costs. However, many farmers are skeptical about the impact of this initiative and remain concerned about the long-term effects of the trade war on their industry.
i mean can u believe $12 billion is not even enough for them? i get it the trade war has been brutal but $12 billion is just a drop in the bucket 
considering how much those farmers have lost already. and what's with the eligibility limits tho? $155,000 per farmer or entity? doesn't that sound like a pretty low bar to me? 
i also wonder when are they gonna get more than just 1 quarter of their soybeans sold to china 
they need real demand for their products not just some token purchase deals. and those tech investments are already taking a toll on the environment 
so do we really want farmers spending even more on fancy equipment?
they're literally working hard to produce food for our country but it seems like no matter what, they can't catch a break 
$12 billion is a lot of money, but it's not enough to cover all the losses they've been taking due to the trade war. and let's be real, even if china does start buying more soybeans, it's not like it's going to make a huge difference in the long run 
. 12 billion is a big chunk of change, but I'm not sure if it's going to make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things 
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. We need to see some real commitment from the admin to address these long-term issues 
. More demand for their products and opening up new markets outside of China would be a huge help 
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. We need to do better by them than just throwing a bone their way 
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they're still stuck in debt from the trade war and now they gotta scramble to make ends meet 
trump's deal with china was touted as a win but cina's been playin' it cool and that's leavin farmers high & dry 
and btw 155k per farm? thats like pennies on the dollar for these big farms lol
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. These farmers need more than just a handout; they need access to new markets and a guaranteed price for their products 
. Otherwise, we're just going to keep seeing the same old struggles from American farmers 
. They need more than just a bailout, they need some real solutions to these issues. This trade war with China is having a major impact on their livelihoods, and it's not just about the money. They're worried about the future of their farms and their families' well-being. The government needs to get creative and focus on opening up new markets for them, maybe even exploring alternative export partners 
. I'm not sure if this $12 billion is gonna make a huge difference in the long run...
. This trade war is having a real impact on farmers, and we need to see some real solutions rather than just throwing money at the problem 
. We should be supporting them more, you know? 
Shouldn't everyone get a fair shot at getting some help? 
. The thing is, farmers aren't just gonna be like "oh cool, more money" and suddenly forget about their losses. It takes time and effort to rebuild trust in the market.
. Something's gotta give here. We need some real solutions, not just Band-Aids.
. Farmers need more than just temporary relief, they want certainty and demand for their products 
. The industry needs new markets outside of China 
.
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... that's not much help for farmers who rely on exports. Maybe we need to explore other markets? Like, have you ever thought about the US being a major player in global food tech? 
. The trade war is still going on and farmers are still losing money left and right