Washington, DC — (RI) — A top USDA official suggests President Trump will have to referee a dispute within his administration about federal payments to partially cover farm losses due to the trade war.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky was in Iowa Thursday, meeting with commodity group representatives. A SECOND round of direct payments to farmers was discussed.
This summer, the Trump Administration announced $12-billion in federal aid which would compensate farmers who Censky says have been “at the tip of the spear” when it comes to retaliatory tariffs. This fall, $4.7-billion worth of checks were sent to eligible farmers who had completed their harvest. Censky says trade disputes are still causing financial harm on the farm and it’s time to release another $6-billion in payments.
China purchased a million tons of U.S. soybeans this week, but Censky is making it clear the USDA does not consider that the end of trade woes for farmers.
Censky grew up on a corn and soybean farm in Minnesota and served two decades as CEO of the American Soybean Association. He delivered the keynote address at the Iowa Soybean Association’s annual policy conference.
