By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

A potential aid package for U.S. farmers appears to be on hold.

Earlier this month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters the federal government will support American farmers as China is not currently buying new crop soybeans.

An announcement on that package was expected the week of Oct. 6 but never came.

On Thursday, Oct. 9, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins addressed the potential aid during a cabinet meeting.

“The president has committed if we need a bridge. He has talked about that to get us from the Biden years to the new Trump era. That’s what we’re working on every day,” Rollins said.

The secretary said the government must reopen before the administration can move forward.

“Once we do, we’ll be able to move out a significant program to help our farmers long-term,” Rollins said. “We have to change this hamster wheel of government. We’ve got to ensure that the farmers have the market to sell. It’s a national security issue.”

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) recently sent letters to Congress and the Trump administration asking for immediate help for farmers and long-term solutions as agriculture faces extreme economic pressures.

Brian Glenn, AFBF’s director of Government Affairs, said costs have skyrocketed while commodity prices have dropped sharply.

“Cost pressures from labor, regulatory compliance, fertilizer and energy have eroded margins for farmers, while their crop receipts have also fallen steeply since 2022,” Glenn said. “Since 2022, U.S. ag has also experienced a trade deficit and persistent non-tariff trade barriers have added to the volatility.”

AFBF is urging the administration and Congress to authorize bridge payments for farmers before the end of 2025.

“These payments must be robust enough to address sector-wide gaps as the federal government continues to work to recalibrate trade strategies, stabilize prices and strengthen key market relationships,” Glenn said.

Glenn said it’s vital that Congress and the administration move quickly to help U.S. farmers and ranchers.

“It is extremely important that the administration and Congress move quickly to authorize bridge payments for farmers before the end of 2025, really to keep farmers afloat, and that we need swift and decisive action taken on policy solutions to increase market access and opportunities for farmers,” Glenn said.

On Oct. 9, the Senate again took up two proposals to temporarily fund the government in this new fiscal year, but both failed to garner the 60 votes needed.

The Senate is out of session until Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The U.S. House of Representatives will reportedly remain out of session until the Senate passes a bill to fund the government, per House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).