President Donald Trump plans to request $11.1 billion in new aid for U.S. farmers, according to Bloomberg. This assistance package, which is part of a supplemental funding request to Congress that also includes defense spending, would be the second such bailout for the agricultural sector this year. The request comes as farmers grapple with low crop prices and elevated production costs, exacerbated by current trade policies and the war with Iran. The announcement was reportedly made to farmers invited for dinner at the White House.
Of the $11.1 billion requested, $10 billion is earmarked for growers of various crops including corn, soybeans, and rice. An additional $1.1 billion is designated for Florida producers who were severely impacted by winter storms in late 2025 and early 2026. This new funding follows an earlier $12 billion in aid already disbursed by the administration this year. Farm and industry groups have indicated that while the initial aid was helpful for spring planting, it was insufficient to fully compensate farmers.
This proposed aid package could significantly increase direct payments to farmers. If approved, it would bring the total direct payments to farmers in 2026 to an estimated $55.4 billion, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. This figure would represent approximately 33% of total farm income for 2026, marking the highest level of direct payments since 2001, as noted by Wesley Davis of Meridian Agribusiness Advisors. The push for this aid also coincides with a reported drop in Trump’s approval rating among rural Americans to 50% in June, down from 60% in February 2025, ahead of the November midterm elections.
