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Boozman: details still being finalized before Trump administration moves forward on aid

The chairman of the U.S. Senate Ag Committee says there are still logistics to be finalized before the Trump administration moves forward with farmer assistance.

John Boozman from Arkansas tells Brownfield “we need to decide how much money is involved and what the need is. People are working really hard now to ascretain that and decide how much will be dispersed, who that will be to and how that will be dispersed so it doesn’t take months.”

Boozman says “hopefully, we can figure out a program that’s been used in the past and piggy back off that with some modifications.”

He says the near $13 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds recently approved by the Office of Management and Budget won’t likely be enough to cover the demand, and everything is on the table to pay for it. That includes Section 32 (tariff) funds, which will require legislative action for the money to be used.

“There’s a tariff program that’s gone on a long time where a certain percentage of customs and tariffs has gone to agriculture. They’re looking to maybe raising the cap of that. Those dollars could be accessed very quickly then.”

Boozman also says lawmakers might able to provide something else for farmers to address high input costs to complement what the Trump administration provides.

“I wouldn’t have any problems with a couple of tranches, just as long as we get the money out in a timely way so farmers could actually make a difference with their lenders.”

He says all commodities impacted by the tough farm economy should be covered by farmer assistance, not just soybeans.

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins also said on Thursday the U.S. government has to reopen so the administration can move forward on farmer assistance. Boozman says he’s not sure how quickly the government will reopen.

Hear Boozman’s interview with Brownfield.