Speaking at a political rally in Kansas on Monday night, President Trump unveiled a multi-billion-dollar aid package for farmers hurt by high prices for diesel fuel and fertilizer.
"Tonight I'm ... pleased to announce that the Department of Agriculture will be launching a new Harvest Fuel Relief program, providing our farmers with $8 billion in support to offset diesel costs during this harvest season," Trump said.
The aid package is similar to a $12 billion plan created last December to help farmers hurt by trade disruptions produced by Trump's imposition of new tariffs on imports from countries all over the world. The Department of Agriculture said the Harvest Fuel Relief program will use "a uniform formula to cover a portion of modeled losses during the 2026 crop year," with payments authorized by the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and administered by the Farm Service Agency.
The politics of inflation: Trump's announcement comes just two weeks before a midterm election that is being shaped by voter anger over a new round of inflation sparked by Trump's tariff blitz and his decision to start a war with Iran. Both moves have pushed prices throughout the economy higher, not least for fuel, including diesel, which is essential for farmers all over the country. Diesel prices hit an all-time high of $6.53 a gallon in September, up 88% from the start of the year. Fertilizer prices have risen sharply, as well, with the war in the Middle East disrupting about a third of the world's supply.
Trump was visiting Kansas to help shore up the reelection campaign of Sen. Roger Marshall, who is in a tough race with Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton. Kansas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932, and the fact that the race is close is a sign of how challenging the midterms are proving to be for Republicans, due in part to the soaring price of fuel.
As he announced another set of one-time payments for farmers, Trump suggested that there could be more to come, though it may depend on the results of the election. "When Republicans win, we will pass even more funding for our farmers," Trump told the crowd. "We love our farmers."