U.S. President Donald Trump announced at a Kansas rally on Monday that his administration is introducing an US$8 billion aid package for farmers in the face of high diesel and fertilizer costs. The package comes just two weeks before midterm elections, where political headwinds threaten to complicate Republicans’ efforts to hold on to seats in some farm-heavy, typically red states. The war with Iran has added to pressure on America’s farmers as they prepare for the crucial harvest season: Fertilizer costs have soared this year after the Middle East conflict disrupted one-third of the world’s supply that normally flowed through the Strait of Hormuz. Farmers are also major users of diesel fuel for their farming equipment, and have seen the price of that key workhorse fuel hit record levels. It’s the the second time in 11 months that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has offered a one-time payment to farmers. This program, which it called a “harvest fuel relief program,” is similar to a $12 billion aid package announced in December. That earlier program helped farmers who then were primarily hurt by the trade disputes sparked by the Trump administration’s tariffs, which were cutting into export demand for their crops and other products. Current polling projects close Senate races or even Democratic victories in many states that Trump easily won in the last three presidential elections, including Iowa, Kansas, Ohio and Texas. Democrats are forecast to win Senate races in North Carolina and Georgia. Kansas, which has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932, is seen as too close to call in a race between Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton. Trump credited Marshall with helping to get the latest farm aid package in place at the rally Monday night. And he promised even more help for farmers “when the Republicans win.” “We love our farmers,” Trump told the crowd. By Chris Isidore, CNN
