President Donald Trump has asked Congress for an additional $11.1 billion in aid for American farmers, according to recent reports. This new request includes $10 billion specifically for row and specialty crop farmers for crops planted in 2026, and an additional $1.1 billion for Florida producers who suffered from severe winter storms in late 2025 and early 2026. This supplemental funding package is part of a larger $87.6 billion request to Congress, with a significant portion, $67.1 billion, allocated to the War Department due to the war with Iran.
This latest appeal for aid comes on top of $12 billion already disbursed earlier in the year through the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program and $1.6 billion for specialty crop farmers. If approved, the total direct payments to farmers in 2026 could reach approximately $55.4 billion. This figure represents roughly 33% of total farm income, a level not observed since 2001, and nearly 20% of projected net farm income. The White House indicated that an additional $10 billion is necessary to cover targeted losses not fully addressed by existing programs.
Farmers are grappling with an array of challenges, including significantly low crop prices and soaring input costs for fuel and fertilizer. These issues have been exacerbated by the war with Iran, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent spikes in international fertilizer and oil prices. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., and Scott Metzger, president of the American Soybean Association, have both expressed appreciation for the proposed aid, highlighting the critical need for economic stability among struggling farmers. While Boozman acknowledged that the requested amount might not be entirely sufficient given the war's impact, he views it as a crucial step in supporting the agricultural sector.
