USDA to give billions to farmers hit hard by tariff war

Farmers are breathing a sigh of relief. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will pay $4.7 billion  to farmers growing the products hit hardest by tariffs in the trade war with China.

Starting next Tuesday farmers who produce soybeans, cotton, corn, dairy and wheat products can apply to their local USDA agency offices to receive aid. This is the first batch of payments coming from a $12 billion aid package.

Congressman Ralph Abraham says it serves as a way to hold these farmers over until questions about tariffs are resolved.

"What it's hopefully going to do is allow them to maybe pay that fuel bill to pay that labor cost until hopefully this tariff war gets over", says Congressman Abraham.  He says he want farmers to be able to "exchange and price and sell and buy in a competitive market...right now we don't have that."

Congressman Abraham says once this money runs out it's unclear if there will be another payment.

"Will there be another check after you know the end of the year? We don't know it all depends on what happens with the tariffs", says Congressman Abraham.

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