Farmers First
Farmer First Actions Taken by the Trump Administration
The Trump Administration Delivered $12 Billion in Farmer Bridge Aid
On December 8, President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced $12 billion in one-time Farmer Bridge Payments to provide immediate relief to American farmers facing ongoing market disruptions, elevated input costs, and lingering impacts from years of failed trade and economic policies. This targeted support is designed to help producers stay afloat while historic investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect, including strengthened reference prices for major commodities beginning in 2026.
Up to $11 billion of this assistance will be delivered through the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which provides proportional, formula-based support to eligible row crop producers across a wide range of commodities. Payments will help offset losses driven by inflation, unfair foreign trade practices, and volatile global markets, with funds expected to be released by February 28, 2026. An additional $1 billion has been reserved for commodities not covered under the FBA program, including specialty crops and sugar. Together, these bridge payments reflect the Administration’s commitment to ensuring farmers can plan, plant, and compete while long-term market access and safety-net reforms are fully implemented.
The Trump Administration Delivered Over $30 Billion in Ad Hoc Assistance to Farmers Since January 2025
Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) is helping farmers recover from the economic hardships of 2024. This program distributed more than $9.3 billion to over 560,000 farmers for soy, corn, sorghum, and other row crops.
Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) is helping specialty crop producers recover from rising input costs and other market disruptions stemming from the Biden Administration. This program distributed over 1.8 billion in assistance to over 52,000 producers.
The Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) is helping producers recover from severe weather events in 2023 and 2024. This program has distributed nearly $6 billion to over 388,000 farmers with up to an additional $9 billion to be distributed over the next four months.
Over $2.5 billion via block grants delivered to states and sugar beet and cane processors via block grants to cover losses from 2023 and 2024 that were left uncovered by existing USDA programs.
Farm Credit Administration Guidance
The Trump Administration Supported One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Farmer Wins
With the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill in July, President Trump has made crop insurance more workable and affordable for American farmers and ranchers. Crop insurance is an essential risk management tool that allows American farmers and ranchers to endure weather and market volatility. The bill increases crop insurance premium support for beginning farmers and ranchers by expanding the definition from five to 10 years of experience, enabling more producers to qualify for assistance over a longer period of time. These improvements will result in over $400 million in savings every year for America’s farmers on insurance premiums.
For the first time in over a decade, the statutory reference prices for the farm safety net programs, ARC and PLC, were raised by 10-21% for major commodities such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. Thanks to OBBBA, USDA is also expanding eligibility for these price support programs by adding more than 30 million new base acres to the program, making them eligible for future PLC or ARC payments starting in crop year 2026.
OBBBA extended the marketing assistance loan programs through 2031 and updated loan rates for major commodities beginning in the 2026 crop year, providing stronger loan rates for crops like wheat, corn, cotton and soybeans.
OBBBA included historic investments to the domestic sugar programs and USDA made them available starting October 1, 2025. The loan rate for raw cane sugar has increased to an average 24 cents per pound for the 2025 - 2031 crop years, with refined beet sugar rates increased to an average of 32.77 cents per pound.
OBBBA invested in USDA’s major conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). These funds will result in over $34B in conservation work on agricultural land over the next 10 years.
OBBBA provides $285 million a year for agricultural trade promotion and facilitation. This is in addition to the existing $234M per year of funding for MAP and FMD. These dollars are key to opening and expanding foreign markets.
OBBBA included many important tax provisions for farmers and ranchers. Some of the most impactful provisions for agriculture are the permanency of the 20% qualified business income deduction, full bonus depreciation and the $15 million per individual estate tax exemption, now also indexed for inflation. With the current land values, equipment costs and input prices, even modest-sized farms can easily exceed that threshold, meaning upon the owner’s death, far more family operations would face massive tax bills than previously estimated. A permanent bonus depreciation means that farmers can continue to write off the entire cost of new equipment, land improvements, new barns and other capital upgrades in the year of purchase, rather than depreciating them over many years.
Trump Administration Oversight on Competition and Farmer Input Costs
On September 26, 2025, USDA and the Department of Justice signed a Memorandum of Understanding (PDF, 1.3 MB) that represents a joint commitment by both agencies to protect American farmers and ranchers from the burdens imposed by high and volatile input costs—such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, and other essential goods—while ensuring competitive supply chains, lower consumer prices, and the resilience of U.S. agriculture and the food supply.
On December 6, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) to stop price fixing, anti-competitive behavior, and foreign influence that drives up prices and threatens the security of America’s food supply. This EO recognizes that sectors including seed, fertilizer, and farm equipment may be vulnerable to anti-competitive manipulation that results in higher prices for farmers and seeks to take aggressive action, in part by the establishment of Task Forces created to investigate price fixing and anti-competitive behavior, especially regarding foreign-owned entities.
These actions combined reiterate the Trump Administration’s commitment to scrutinizing competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace, including antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition.
The Trump Administration is Lowering Farm Labor Costs through Deregulation Actions
Farm labor costs alone increased 47% since 2020 largely due to the high cost of utilizing the H-2A program to secure seasonal labor under the Biden Administration who artificially inflated Adverse Effect Wage Rates set by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) using USDA’s Farm Labor Survey which was never designed to be used for setting government-mandated wage rates and is duplicative of other DOL data sources. As such, USDA discontinued this survey while DOL issued a bold new interim final rule, which decreased wage costs for H-2A agricultural employers, resulting in initial savings of at least $2 billion. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule, effective October 2, 2025, to streamline the filing process for certain temporary agricultural worker petitions. These actions combined are making farm labor more affordable and more accessible for American agriculture.
The Trump Administration Is Prioritizing the Purchase of Healthy U.S. Grown Commodities to Feed Those Most in Need through Section 32 Buys
This year alone, USDA has provided nearly $1 billion in Section 32 purchases, all which benefit the charitable feeding network.
- On November 24, 2025, Secretary Rollins announced a $30 million Section 32 buy of American grown oranges, grapefruit, and mandarins.
- On August 6, 2025, Secretary Rollins announced a $2 million Section 32 buy of invasive Chesapeake Bay blue catfish.
- On August 1, 2025, Secretary Rollins announced up to $230 million Section 32 buy of Alaska pollock, catfish, apples, beans and cranberries.
- On May 23, 2025, Secretary Rollins announced a $67 million Section 32 buy of American groundfish, pears, cherries, shrimp and beans.
USDA will continue to buy Section 32 commodity purchases to support American seafood, fruit, vegetable, and tree-nut producers for distribution to U.S. food banks, schools, and other outlets serving low-income individuals. These actions support President Trump’s vision to Make America Healthy Again through U.S. local farmer grown, healthy, and nutritious commodities.
The Trump Administration is the most pro-biofuels Administration in History
President Trump recognizes how important the Renewable Fuel Standard is for American corn and soybean farmers. In September, EPA Administrator Zeldin announced a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking that would revise the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard “Set 2” RVOs for 2026 and 2027. If finalized, this would provide much certainty in the market for our producers while delivering lower prices at the pump for consumers. The RVO gives the markets the incentive to invest in American products for American consumers and to export around the world.
EPA’s decision to allow the summer sale of E-15 constituted 2025 year-round E15 and continues to deliver immediate relief to consumers, give more choices at the pump, and drive demand for corn grown, processed, and used right here in America. America’s national security depends on our energy security, and biofuels are a crucial asset that brings more jobs and helps farmers in rural America.
Trump Administration Trade Deals and Market Access Wins to Date
USDA announced applications are now open through January 23, 2026, for the $285 million America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), a key component of the Trump Administration’s work to expand global market access and create new export opportunities for America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.
Additionally, President Trump and his administration have worked to pen new trade deals and trade frameworks with more than 15 countries.
Switzerland and Liechtenstein will invest at least $200 billion in the United States, remove tariffs on several agricultural products, allow for market access for American beef, bison, and poultry, and remove non-tariff barriers for poultry and dairy.
El Salvador has removed non-tariff barriers including fumigation requirements and arbitrary geographic indicator restrictions on dairy product names.
Argentina will allow access for U.S. poultry and poultry products, within one year, and simplify red tape for U.S. exporters of beef, beef products, pork, and pork products. Argentina also has agreed to protect U.S. exporters’ use of certain meat and cheese terms, preserving market access and creating the potential for new opportunities in the region.
Ecuador has reduced or eliminated tariffs on American nuts, wheat, and wine; and will reduce major non-tariff barriers for many agricultural products regarding import licensing and facility registration requirements.
Guatemala will address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in its market; maintain science- and risk-based regulatory frameworks; and efficient authorization processes for agricultural products.
China committed to delaying new export controls on rare earth minerals, resume large purchases of U.S. soybeans, sorghum, and more. To date, China is already purchasing additional soybeans, wheat, and sorghum.
Malaysia will provide significant market access for U.S. products like dairy, horticultural products, poultry, pork, rice, and ethanol; recognize the U.S. food safety systems for U.S. meat, poultry, and dairy products; streamline its halal certification of U.S. food and agricultural products; and open market access for U.S. sorghum.
Cambodia will eliminate 100% of its tariffs on U.S. products, while the U.S. maintains a 19% reciprocal tariff rate for imports from Cambodia. It will also recognize the U.S. scientific guidelines for most U.S. agricultural goods and food.
Thailand will eliminate tariffs on 99% of U.S. goods, including most food and agricultural products and expedite access for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service-certified meat and poultry products, giving American producers unprecedented access to the market.
Vietnam will accept preferential access for U.S. agricultural goods, including specialty cheese and meats, and is already improving access for U.S. peaches and nectarines. Vietnam will pay the United States 20% tariffs on all goods and 40% on any transshipped goods
South Korea will pay 15 percent tariff to the United States.
European Union will purchase $750 billion of American energy and addressing non-tariff barriers for farmers and ranchers - pork and dairy products. Market access for U.S. agricultural goods like tree nuts, sorghum, and more will also be provided as we work to commit to a simpler regulatory agenda.
Philippines is opening their market to the United States and charging us zero tariffs while the Philippines will pay 19 percent tariffs to the United States.
Indonesia will eliminate 90 percent of tariffs on American exports including for all agricultural products.
Japan agreed to $8 billion in American agricultural purchases including corn, soybeans, ethanol, fertilizer, and sustainable aviation fuel. Japan will increase US rice imports by 75%.
United Kingdom will create $5 billion in new agricultural export opportunities. $700 million in ethanol and better market access for American beef.
At the same time, President Trump is securing new, unprecedented market access for American agricultural producers around the world. For example, wine exports to Mexico are up 30 percent in 2025, reaching $18 million; South Korea has purchased $1 billion in corn, more than double from 2024; Bangladesh purchased $172 million in soybeans; Costa Rica streamlined its dairy access for U.S. producers; and India cut its bourbon tariff in half.
