House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson says that the upcoming bridge payments may not be enough to make farmers whole. He warns that producers will likely need a lot more than the $12 billion headed their way.
In an interview with AgriPulse, Thompson says that Congress will need to provide $10 billion more. This would be in addition to the $12 billion in bridge payments due in February, funded through tariffs, to address losses for row crop farmers.
Thompson says that other sectors need help too like dairy, timber, and specialty crops.
Related Stories
Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Stage Two will disburse around $16 billion, approved by Congress last year. Sign-ups begin Monday, and producers have until April to return applications.
An outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) first appeared after livestock events in Texas and Arizona, and some horses have already died.
Early Cattle-on-Feed estimates point to slightly tighter cattle supplies, reinforcing the need to monitor prices and timing for winter marketing.
Row crop losses in 2025 are outpacing last year. With no disaster aid yet approved, many operations face a tough financial bridge to 2026 even as Farm Bill improvements remain a year away.
