Farm groups praise $12 billion aid package, urge pullback on trade fights

Key agricultural trade associations praised the Trump administration Tuesday for providing $12 billion to support farmers hurt by an ongoing trade war, but urged the administration to dial back that fight.

“We are grateful for the administration’s recognition that farmers and ranchers needed positive news now and this will buy us some time. This announcement is substantial, but we cannot overstate the dire consequences that farmers and ranchers are facing in relation to lost export markets. Our emphasis continues to be on trade and restoring markets, and we will continue to push for a swift and sure end to the trade war and the tariffs impacting American agriculture,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.