USDA defends $12 billion subsidy amid farm economy challenges [View all]
Source: Reuters
February 20, 2026 4:05 PM EST Updated 11 hours ago
ARLINGTON, Virginia/CHICAGO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - As the U.S. Department of Agriculture prepares to dole out $12 billion in government subsidies next week, officials and economists at the agency's annual forum near Washington defended the assistance as a necessary measure to prevent more farmers from financial ruin.
The two-day meeting this week in Arlington, Virginia, focused on a challenging farm economy that could see further headwinds after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs that he pursued under a law meant for use in national emergencies. The ruling handed a stinging defeat to the Republican president, with major implications for the global economy and potential ripple effects on the U.S. farm sector.
WHAT USDA IS DOING
The Farmer Bridge Assistance program is expected to distribute $11 billion in one-time payments to farmers. It's a per-acre rate for those who planted one of the 19 commodity crops identified as being eligible for the program. Another $1 billion is slated for specialty crop producers. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said Friday that the agency will open the application process ahead of schedule on Monday.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/usda-defends-12-billion-subsidy-amid-farm-economy-challenges-2026-02-20/
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