Trump administration considers bailout for farmers

As the fallout from the Trump administration tariffs continues, there is talk that the

administration might fund a new bailout for American farmers. Following the president's

announcement of sweeping tariffs last week, China announced it is hitting the U.S. with a 34 percent

counter tariff and placing restrictions on imports of food. Many of those levies would

target American agriculture products. Farm groups have warned that retaliatory tariffs targeting American agriculture exports could harm prices for corn, soybeans, cotton, and other crops

Such tariffs would hurt their bottom line. In fact, soybean prices have fallen nearly 20 percent over the past year

Tariffs could also affect the price of equipment, pesticides, and fertilizer. North Carolina Republican Senator Tom Tillis is on record as saying

the Trump tariff policy and implementation could cause irreparable damage to farmers

In addition, sorghum and cotton farmer Barry Evans told The Wall Street Journal

quote, we hope there will be a bailout. If we don't get something, it will be quite a disaster

Speaking on CNN on Sunday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins indicated such help is likely coming

We will make sure that we have the funds in working with the senators and working with the appropriators

that we can do what we did last time, which I think Secretary Perdue last time spent about $25 to $28 billion

to mitigate some of the fallout from the last tariffs for the short term

The long term, the tariffs worked. I mean, the research shows that we had an increase in productivity, increase in jobs, etc

And late last year, Congress approved $20 billion in relief aid for farmers

due to a downturn in the agriculture market. Right now, it's planting season

And Secretary Rollins says the administration will not know until the summer or early fall

what the size of the bailout would be. For more unbiased updates, download the Straight Arrow News app