On Thursday, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins spoke on the current state of the farm economy in the United States and addressed the ways President Trump is supporting American agriculture.
U.S. farm production inputs are significantly more costly than four years ago, putting pressure on farmers’ bottom line. Between 2020 and now, seed expenses have increased 18%, fuel and oil expenses increased 32%, fertilizer expenses increased 37%, and interest expenses increased by a whopping 73%.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Justice signed a Memorandum of Understanding that represents a joint commitment by both agencies to protect American farmers and ranchers from the burdens imposed by high and volatile input costs while ensuring competitive supply chains, lower consumer prices, and the resilience of U.S. agriculture and the food supply.
The Antitrust Division of DOJ will work hand in hand with USDA to take a hard look and scrutinize competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace, including antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition.
Rollins also announced the release of additional ECAP (Emergency Commodity Assistance Program) funds. Of the $10 billion authorized under ECAP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already delivered over $8 billion to eligible producers to offset higher input costs and falling commodity prices. USDA is releasing the remaining ECAP funding that will be delivered to approved producers within the week, bringing the final payment factor to 99 percent.
ECAP payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities in the 2024 crop year and are issued automatically to producers with approved applications.
“Relief is already reaching farms and ranches, but more help is still needed,” says Sec. Rollins. “ECAP payments, combined with our international food assistance purchases, help producers navigate market volatility, pay down debt for the 2024 crop year, and move American grown commodities to people in need in countries around the world. American farmers produce the most nutritious, safe, and high-value food in the world, and USDA is proud to stand with them at home and abroad.”
