More federal disaster assistance for US farmers could become part of the year-end debate in Congress, as lawmakers weigh unfinished farm legislation alongside other spending, agricultural policy consultant Tom Sell told All Ag News from Lubbock, Texas.
Sell said discussions have included an agricultural assistance package of roughly $12 billion, with some talk of going beyond that figure. Producers, he said, are still under financial pressure from production costs that stayed high through the 2026 season, tariff-related disruption and foreign competition, even as some commodity markets improve.
The congressional talks are separate from the administration's $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief programme, announced to offset high diesel costs. Sell said some help is being pursued administratively, while other support needs an act of Congress.
He expects disaster assistance, the Farm Bill and appropriations to compete for time when lawmakers return for the year-end session. The final amount, and whether it passes at all, remain unsettled.
Photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)
Source: All Ag News
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