USDA details $12 billion farm aid package favoring rice, cotton; soy farmers warn of strain
Source: Reuters
December 31, 2025 6:54 PM EST Updated 11 hours ago
CHICAGO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture released details on Wednesday about how much row crop farmers will receive next year from a $12 billion aid program, but soybean growers say such payments fall short of helping those hurt by low crop prices and trade disputes.
The Farmer Bridge Assistance program is expected to distribute $11 billion in one-time payments to farmers, who will be paid on a per-acre rate if they planted one of the 19 commodity crops identified as being eligible for the program, USDA said in a statement on Wednesday.
U.S. farmers produced massive corn and soybean harvests this fall amid a global glut of grain, and lost billions of dollars amid falling crop prices. Soybean farmers were particularly hard hit by the loss of soybean sales to China, by far the world's top buyer, when it turned to South American suppliers during stalled trade talks.
While the aid is expected to help farmers prepare for the next planting season, growers and agricultural economists say the payments are a fraction of farm losses and will not rescue the sagging U.S. farm economy.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/usda-details-12-billion-farm-aid-package-favoring-rice-cotton-soy-farmers-warn-2025-12-31/
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