MAGNOLIA, Ky. (RFD-TV) — The agricultural community is responding to the administration’s newly announced $12 billion farm aid package. The financial support is designed to help producers offset market disruptions and rising input costs that have strained farm operations this year.
Caleb Ragland, President of the American Soybean Association (ASA), joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to share what he is hearing from producers about the assistance and whether it is enough to ease current financial pressures.
“It’s a start — we’re appreciative to the Administration for acknowledging that there is pain in the ag sector, and row crops in particular,” Ragland told RFD-TV News on Tuesday. “This $11 billion will help prime the pump a bit, but it’s not anywhere close to filling the void of the average $109/acre loss soybean farmers across the United States experienced this year.”
Ragland noted that the new bridge payment is intended to help keep farms stable until expanded safety-net programs begin in 2026.
“I’ve said before, government aid never makes us whole,” Ragland said. “It’s helpful. We hope this will help bridge the gap and keep some farm families farming in 2026, but unfortunately, there’s still some blood in the water and deep red on most farmers’ books here as we wind up 2025. We need market-based opportunities so that we can have a better outlook in 2026.”
He also discussed the balance farmers are seeking between short-term aid and long-term market access, emphasizing the industry’s ongoing focus on improving trade opportunities in the year ahead. Some opportunities come from exports and domestic demand. Specifically, Ragland said that finalizing RVOs and the 45-Z tax credit to expand biofuel production capacity would be “a real shot in the arm” to increase domestic demand for commodity crops.
He offered his outlook for the farm economy and overall soy producer sentiment heading into the new year, particularly regarding increased market opportunities as China remains largely off the buying table and not meeting soybean commitments outlined by trade officials in the last few months.
“I think that it’s certainly cautious optimism — we have that deadline to hit that’s coming up here soon at the end of the year […], and we’re what, 22 days away from that now, so it’s coming fast,” he said. “But it is good to see we at least have a target we’re shooting for now, where we went many months with zero sales, so we still have a long way to go. It’s certainly good to have a target, but what we have to do is see deliveries get made, and ultimately cash on the barrel head going back to the American soybean industry — and that’s what will really give us optimism.”
He also highlighted the importance of reducing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers so soybean farmers can compete on price in the global market. Additionally, Ragland emphasized the importance of strong trade relationships with Canada and Mexico, as the industry calls for a complete renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“I think one of the biggest issues we are facing right now is that most farms are stretched really thin on their working capital and cash flow due to the lower prices combined with record-high cost of production,” Ragland said. “We look across our inputs, and we’ve never paid more as an industry when you look across the whole cumulative mix. Every direction you look, it’s higher.”
He said the strain is hardest on smaller operations and young farmers, but this sustained period of challenging times is now having a marked effect on some of the larger, historically strong operations.
