National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew released the following statement (Dec. 8, 2025) in response to the administration’s announcement of $12 billion in one-time bridge payments for American farmers struggling with volatile markets, high input costs and trade uncertainty.
“We appreciate the administration’s decision to deliver economic assistance to family farmers and ranchers at a time of serious stress. Across the country, farmers are confronting the combined pressures of disrupted trade, rising input costs, and depressed commodity markets. This relief will provide near-term support for many farmers working hard just to stay afloat.
“Short-term payments, while important, are only a first step. What we truly need are long-term structural fixes that restore viability and stability to family farms and ranches for generations to come. In real-time, we are experiencing the consequences of farm policy that is woefully outdated. The farm safety net can’t keep up with today’s economic realities. Input costs remain high, trade relationships are uncertain, access to affordable healthcare is in danger and the stress on rural communities continues to grow.
“That is why NFU is committed to working with Congress to design a new farm bill that reflects today’s realities. We’re investing in research, convening with our members, and bringing forward bold, forward-looking ideas from a reimagined farm safety net and stable market mechanisms, to strengthened protections against consolidation driving up costs for both farmers and consumers.”
“We appreciate the administration’s attention to the challenges farmers continue to face in today’s market,” said American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland, Kentucky farmer. “
ASA was also grateful to see farmer voices represented directly at the Dec. 8, 2025, announcement. Lifetime ASA member and Indiana soybean farmer Tyler Everett participated in the roundtable at the White House. Rollins visited Everett’s farm in late October, and we appreciate the administration’s outreach and willingness to hear directly from soybean farmers who continue to navigate ongoing market pressures.
National Sorghum Producers thanked the Trump Administration for announcing new emergency assistance for U.S. farmers through the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, emphasizing the support will provide timely and essential relief as producers continue to face financial pressure. While full program details are still forthcoming, this aid will help bridge growers into next year and offer needed certainty heading into the 2026 season.
NSP board members Garrett Love and Barry Evans were honored to meet with the President in the White House Cabinet Room during the Dec. 8, 2025, announcement. “It means a great deal that our challenges are being heard directly at the highest level. Today’s announcement reinforced how important this support is for farmers across the country, and I’m grateful for the Administration’s commitment to getting assistance out quickly,” said Evans, a sorghum farmer from Kress, Texas.
“We appreciate the Administration’s recognition of the tough conditions farmers are navigating right now,” NSP Vice Chair Garrett Love, a sorghum grower from Montezuma, Kansas, said. “This support through the FBA Program will be vital for producers in the short term, and we are grateful it is moving quickly. Sorghum farmers are working hard to plan for next year, and this bridge will help keep operations steady as we transition into a new planting season.”
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives: “Farmer co-ops welcome President Trump’s announcement that his administration will move forward with a major assistance package to help producers navigate one of the toughest economic periods we’ve seen in years. With cash prices under pressure, export markets disrupted, and farm balance sheets stretched thin, producers across the country have been shouldering sustained financial strain. This support is both timely and necessary.
“The Farmer Bridge Assistance program, as outlined, recognizes the dual challenges farmers are facing: sharp losses in key overseas markets and a prolonged slump in commodity prices. Taking both into account is essential to ensuring that the aid reflects real-world conditions on the ground.
“While we commend the Trump administration’s action today, USDA is now at the limit of what it can do without further congressional action. Therefore, we urge lawmakers to do their part and pass any needed additional assistance, ideally as part of finishing a new farm bill.”
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