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.
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Read the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s official press release published on Monday, December 8, 2025.
$11 billion will go to row-crop farmers immediately, with $1 billion set aside for specialty crops.