"Despite the Trump administration's recent $12 billion bailout, a turbulent year is prompting some farmers to question their reliance on government assistance and programs. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: Last week, the Trump administration announced 12 billion in relief for farmers impacted by tariffs. That is just one reason the year has been difficult for American farms. As NPR's Anusha Mathur reports, some farmers are lobbying for more support, others are losing faith that government is the solution."
"BRENDA RUDOLPH: We sold soybeans. You know, China wasn't taking them. So, like, we were drastically impacted by that. MATHUR: That's Brenda Rudolph. Her family lives outside Little Falls, a small town in central Minnesota known for thick pine tree forests and thriving agriculture. China has always been a big importer of her soybeans. But this year, Rudolph was caught up in the U.S.-China tariff war. When harvesting in September, she earned about 15% less than she anticipated."
"In a press conference last week, President Trump said the goal of his latest aid package is to help people like Rudolph. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: 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. MATHUR: But the farmers I talked to said tariffs were just one cause of uncertainty in 2025."
A $12 billion federal relief package was announced to aid farmers affected by tariffs. Tariffs and a U.S.-China trade war reduced soybean income, with at least one farmer earning about 15% less at harvest. USDA cuts removed $1 billion from programs that helped schools and food banks buy from local farms, reducing local market support. Farmers express mixed responses: some lobby for additional government help while others lose faith in government solutions. The agriculture sector remains deeply tied to federal policy, with USDA delivering billions in annual assistance and inconsistent policy creating financial uncertainty.
Read at www.npr.org
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