Donald Trump held a White House roundtable Monday with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and a group of farmers, where he announced a $12 billion aid package for the agriculture industry. Eleven billion will go to one-time payments to row crop farmers under a new program, called Farmer Bridge Assistance, which will be administered by the Agriculture Department. The remaining $1 billion will go to farmers whose crops do not qualify for the program.
Farmers of corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, rice, cattle, wheat, and potatoes were in attendance.
President Trump: "We’re going to use [tariff] money to provide $12 BILLION in economic assistance to American farmers... This relief will provide much-needed certainty to farmers as they get this year’s harvest to market and look ahead to next year's crops." pic.twitter.com/xZDRd9t6l8
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 8, 2025
Farms have been hit by China’s pulling back on purchases of American agriculture in the tit-for-tat tariff battle with the U.S. Soybeans have taken the biggest plunge, and the administration is looking to help out the industry while trade negotiations continue. The amount of aid received will depend on income and acreage:
Farmers with an adjusted gross income average below $900,000 for the 2022-2024 tax years are eligible and will have until Dec. 19 to submit acreage reporting data to determine their payment amount, according to another official. Rates will be released by month’s end. The administration expects to distribute the assistance no later than the end of February 2026, though it could come earlier, the person said.
More good news for farmers: the trade war seems to be easing, and China has picked up its soybean purchasing pace:
…Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in South Korea in October, where the two hashed out a series of agreements concerning trade. Specifically, Trump said he agreed to cut tariffs on Chinese imports by 10% — reducing the rate from 57% to 47% — because China said it would cooperate with the U.S. on addressing the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
Since those talks, China has started to boost its purchases of soybeans again. China purchased at least 840,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery in December and January, Reuters reported in November. That purchase marked the largest shipment since at least January, Reuters reported.
A moving moment came when a farmer thanked the president, saying that because of his help, he might be able to keep the farm in the family:
NEW: A grateful farmer thanks President Trump, saying his policies keep family farms alive:
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) December 8, 2025
“What you're doing here in DC is working. You have a backbone to stand up to other countries for trade. You're getting things done. Tax provisions.”
“I’ll be able to potentially pass on… pic.twitter.com/0janjZXx0Y
I’ll be able to potentially pass on a farm to my children because of you.
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GOP Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-4) thanked the president on behalf of his state's farmers:
President Trump is an incredible friend to Iowa farmers, and today’s announcement of immediate farm relief is welcome news for Iowa agriculture.
— Rep. Randy Feenstra (@RepFeenstra) December 8, 2025
This relief will help bridge the gap between Biden’s failures & President Trump’s work to invest in rural Iowa & support agriculture. pic.twitter.com/itaKsryoLz
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We all know that Trump worked in a McDonald’s during his presidential campaign, but maybe he should take up farming too:
When Trump visited the farm, you have him sign the combine!
— 𝐿𝒶𝒹𝓎 𝒱 🥀 (@V_Lady2024) November 2, 2025
I would have retired that piece of equipment pic.twitter.com/2g9j9eWur9
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and bold policies, America’s economy is back on track.
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