Trump cut funding for farmers — then unlocked billions for them before Election Day — SkimNews
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- USDA unlocked $8 billion in aid for farmers on October 19 to offset losses from high diesel prices, with payments expected soon for the 2026 crop year.
- USDA announced $57 million on October 26 for ranchers to expand meat-processing capacity, just over a week before Election Day.
- USDA removed solar from a renewable energy grant program this month, limiting farmers’ ability to adopt alternative energy despite rising utility costs.
- Farmers faced rising diesel costs linked to the Iran war, with a Democrat-led report estimating $2.4 billion in additional fuel spending due to Trump’s foreign policy.
- Iowa Farmers Union president Aaron Lehman stated farmers 'have needed help for months' and 'never should have been put in this position' by delayed support.
- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition policy director Mike Lavender called the bailouts a 'failing solution' as farm bankruptcies hit a six-year high this spring.
Why it matters: The $8 billion diesel relief and targeted rancher funding arrive after months of cuts and amid record farm bankruptcies, making this a high-stakes political recalibration. The timing—weeks before the midterms—contrasts with the administration’s prior rollbacks on climate and energy programs that farmers rely on, suggesting reactive rather than strategic support.
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