The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Congress to approve $11 billion U.S. in additional aid for American farmers.
The White House says the aid is needed to help farmers struggling with high fuel and fertilizer costs, as well as tariff pressures, drought conditions, and livestock disease in much of the U.S.
The new funding would be on top of $12 billion U.S. in aid that the Trump administration has already disbursed to farmers this year.
The agriculture industry in America has been hit hard in recent months by soaring production costs and low crop prices, made worse by U.S. trade policies and the Iran war.
Farm and industry groups have said that money is needed to help farmers weather the current hardships and continue operating.
Fuel and fertilizer prices have soared this spring as the Iran war pushed crude oil prices north of $110 U.S. a barrel.
The additional aid also comes ahead of the midterm Congressional elections this November, with farmers traditionally a loyal voting bloc for Trump and his Republican Party.
However, Trump’s approval rating among rural Americans has fallen to a new low of 50%, down from 60% a year ago, according to a recent Reuters (NYSE: $TRI) survey.
According to the White House funding request, $10 billion U.S. of the new aid will be allocated to crop farmers for the current 2026 planting year.
