USDA Officials Defend Twelve Billion Dollar Subsidy Program to Support Struggling Farmers
The USDA will distribute twelve billion dollars in aid to help farmers survive economic challenges. Applications open Monday to provide a financial bridge.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will distribute $12 billion in Farmer Bridge Assistance subsidies to the US 
US agriculture sector. The program includes $11 billion in one-time payments for eligible commodity crop producers and $1 billion for specialty crop producers. According to officials, the disbursement is intended to prevent additional farm financial failures amid a challenging farm economy.
US agriculture sector. The program includes $11 billion in one-time payments for eligible commodity crop producers and $1 billion for specialty crop producers. According to officials, the disbursement is intended to prevent additional farm financial failures amid a challenging farm economy.The Farmer Bridge Assistance program is being administered through the Farm Service Agency, which is preparing to open applications ahead of schedule. Officials expect that payments will be distributed to eligible producers by February 28. This near-term federal fiscal intervention is timed to support the industry ahead of the next season, providing what officials describe as a material share of producers' income during a downturn in the farm economy.
