The Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) has responded to the $12 billion federal subsidy package amid tariff and rising cost struggles.
The WFU has said the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program will deliver much-needed relief to the state’s growers during a time of intense financial strain due to “uncertainty driven by recent trade policies, including tariffs.”
This $12 billion dollar relief program will provide approximately $11 billion for commodity farmers and $1 billion for specialty crop growers.
WFU believes this will offset a portion of farmers’ losses, but according to economists at North Dakota State University, they estimate it pales in comparison to the more than $40 billion nationwide in financial damages caused by tariffs, primarily on soybeans, and the continuing rise of input costs for farmers.
The WFU continues to say, “Some smaller-scale farmers may see little to no benefit from this program, and past relief efforts have shown that distribution is not always equitable. This round of aid, while welcome, falls short of making farmers whole.”
While WFU President Darin Von Ruden added, “Farmers in our state don’t want to rely on emergency payments year after year—we want a fair shot at making a living from the work we do.”
While soybean farmers have been hit hard by tariffs, particularly with sales to China being nearly non-existent, the Farm Bureau reports that China has not purchased any corn, wheat, or sorghum from the U.S. this year, while the USDA projects the nation’s agricultural exports to China will total just $17 billion.
This is down 30% from just one year ago and down nearly 50% from 2022, leaving many farmers, including those in Wisconsin, with uncertainty and financial turmoil.
