Struggling US farmers call for new bailout

Extreme weather has already wiped out millions of dollars in crops in recent weeks, and Trump's trade war threatens to cut off markets with China and Mexico for US farmers whilst also increasing costs such as fertilizer.

Trump won all but 11 of the nation's farming-dependent counties last year, with an average of 78-percent support, and his vote share rose in those communities, despite a trade war in his first term that required a $23 billion taxpayer bailout for farmers in 2018 and 2019.

But this time it's unsure how fast any help can be provided with a dysfunctional Congress, local USDA offices closed and fewer staff.

“The U.S. reputation has taken a huge hit. We can no longer be considered a reliable trading partner which is terrible for farmers,” added Ben Lilliston, director of rural strategies and climate change at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IAPT)

Apart from the trade war and weather disasters, rural communities are also being hit by Musk's mass layoffs in the Department of Agriculture which provides technical help to farmers and provides loans and disaster assistance. 

Jesse Womack, policy expert at the National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition lamented the seemingly senselessness of removing billions of dollars for projects that improve long-term farm viability and resilience, only to then spend billions bringing back farmers from financial collapse.

Struggling farmers call for new bailout as Trump delivers new caps-heavy threat to China