U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will not provide emergency aid to farmers who are suffering from low commodity prices as long as the federal government remains shut down.
USDA last Sunday transferred $13 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation, but it is unclear whether those funds will be used for aid or how they will be distributed. Notably, the Trump administration has simultaneously been finalizing a deal that would provide $20 billion in aid to Argentina.
The announcement comes as farmers across the country continue to endure record low commodity prices as international markets for American crops dry up. Chinese importers have not bought American soybeans this year, marking the first time U.S. farmers have not had access to the world’s largest soybean market in more than 20 years.
NFU continues to urge Congress and the administration to release aid as soon as possible to prevent a deepening farm crisis.
