Trump offers $12 billion to aid farmers hit by trade tariffs

President Trump’s administration announced a plan to offer $12 billion in aid to farmers hit by trade tariffs.

"The tariffs are hurting us, commodity prices are down, crops look great right now but I don’t know what this fall will hold as far as yields," said Nathan Dorn.

United States agriculture exports have been a prime target of China and other countries that have retaliated against the tariffs Trump has done in recent months.

So what does this mean for Nebraska?

Steve Nelson is the president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

"Our economy is very much dependent on agriculture, about one in every four jobs is connected to agriculture in our state," said Nelson.

Nelson says when agriculture is doing well, the state does well. He wants to encourage the Trump administration to get bilateral trade agreements.

This would be more valuable rather than programs that off set losses related to trade.

"There are budget issues in the state of Nebraska because there are high margins in agriculture right now and any trade deal would be very beneficial not just for farmers and ranchers but for all Nebraska."

Our two senators and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry all basically said farmers just want a good price and we need to expand market access.

Nathan Dorn, a farmer near Firth, says if there is no market to sell too, it doesn’t matter whats in the grain bin. It’s not going to be worth anything. They’ll have to rely on old programs that were used in the eighties.

"It’s not fun to take money from the government, it’s fun to raise a crop, it’s fun to grow a crop and harvest it and sell it and make money to pay your bills," said Dorn.

The $12 billion would be coming out of the Commodity Credit Corporation. It’s not something that congress can vote on. It’s only up to the executive power.