Farmers Applaud Diesel Fuel Cost Relief
AFBF Staff
photo credit: Arkansas Farm Bureau, used with permission.
The White House announced an aid package to help farmers battle the high cost of diesel. Chad Smith says increased fuel prices have added to already elevated expenses on the farm.
Smith: The Trump administration announced it will provide $8 billion in relief for farmers getting squeezed during harvest by the high price of diesel fuel. John Newton, vice president of public policy and economic analysis for the American Farm Bureau, talked about the potential impact on farmers.
Newton: How is this going to impact farmers? I think we have to wait until we get into November, and USDA is able to roll out the formulas that we're going to use to determine program payments. Figure out how we're going to help specialty crop producers, how we're going to help fishermen, and the many other commodities that are likely in need of support, given the high diesel prices that they face.
Smith: He talked about the amount of relief the $8 billion may provide.
Newton: There are a lot of farmers that are dealing with high diesel prices, and we've been in close communication with champions in the Senate and the House that were seeking as much as 17 to 20 billion dollars in economic support for agriculture, so there's the possibility that Congress could still act.
Smith: Newton said there are other steps the administration can take to assist farmers during the busy fall harvest.
Newton: President Trump has already indicated his support for passing a modernized farm bill. He's been on record in his support of year-round E15, and he's also been on record that we need to fix our ag labor challenges. So, we hope that Congress can solve all of those things by the end of the year, and the administration's support in these efforts certainly moves the needle.
Smith: Chad Smith, Washington.
