Trump Announces $8 Billion Diesel Aid for U.S. Farmers

President Donald Trump announced an $8 billion diesel aid package for farmers during a rally in Kansas. The relief effort aims to mitigate high fuel prices resulting from the war in Iran and will be disbursed after the November 3 election.

The United States Department of Agriculture will fund the payments through the Commodity Credit Corporation. The aid targets fishermen, produce farmers, and producers of commodities including rice, soybeans, and corn. Rather than requiring individual receipts, the agency will determine payment amounts based on average fuel consumption models.

This package brings total government payments to farmers to a record $55.4 billion this year, exceeding the previous pandemic-era peak of $45 billion in 2020. Richard Fordyce of the USDA indicated that payments are expected toward the end of the year, though he noted that officials still have work to do to finalize specific numbers.