Trump rolls out $8 billion farm diesel aid before midterm vote
Why it matters: The USDA plans one-time payments for 2026 crop-year losses as Republicans fight to hold support in farm states.
President Donald Trump said the Agriculture Department will provide $8 billion to farmers to help cover diesel costs during the harvest season, adding a new subsidy push weeks before November's midterm elections. The USDA later said the money would fund one-time payments to American farmers facing temporary market disruptions and higher input costs. The department said the aid would be distributed by the Farm Service Agency using a uniform formula to cover part of modeled losses in the 2026 crop year. Trump made the move in Kansas as high fuel costs and broader cost-of-living pressures weigh on voters, especially in farm states with competitive Senate races.