President Donald Trump’s administration will provide $8 billion to American farmers through a new federal program aimed at offsetting elevated diesel expenses during the 2026 crop year, drawing praise from Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.)
On Tuesday, Marshall applauded the administration’s plan to deliver one-time assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Harvest Fuel Relief Program.
The announcement follows Marshall’s September letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, which called for temporary, targeted support for farmers and ranchers confronting sharply higher diesel expenses during the 2026 harvest. Marshall said concerns from Kansas farmers were presented directly to Trump and Rollins. He described the funding as assistance for producers who help feed and fuel the country.
The USDA will calculate payments using planted acreage, production costs, crop yields, and prices. Commodity-specific payment rates are expected to be announced in November, according to a press release by the office of the Senator.
Trump Signals More Aid if GOP Wins
The relief program, announced at a campaign rally by Trump in Kansas and on his Truth Social on Monday, seeks to ease fuel costs for Americans ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
“When Republicans win, we will pass even more funding for our Great Farmers, and Fuel prices will come tumbling down as soon as the Iran War is over, which will happen very quickly!” the President wrote as he credited Marshall for the initiative.
Diesel Costs Pressure Farmers and Truckers
The relief follows a series of warnings about fuel costs. Diesel averaged $6.3199 per gallon on Tuesday, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), up from $6.2787 a week earlier and $3.6192 a year ago.
Last month, economist Steve Hanke said that diesel costs were “CRUSHING American farmers and truckers.” Hanke wrote that farm fuel costs had risen $11 per acre for corn and $7 per acre for soybeans compared with the prior year, arguing that diesel prices were contributing to political frustration among farmers and truckers.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an emergency order temporarily allowing tax-exempt red-dyed diesel on highways. He said the measure would “drive down the costs of all goods, including groceries.”
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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