Purdue Speaks

Purdue Speaks

Rick Worthington
Rick Worthington
Purdue Speaks

Trade is still a big concern among Farmers and Ranchers across the United States.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue says ending the trade war will depend on China.

To help farmers, Perdue announced plans to provide $12 billion in aid, including $4.7 billion for payments to farmers.

But - he says he does not expect there to be a trade mitigation program in 2019.

"We're not planning on a trade mitigation program for next year," he said. The trade war "was put upon farmers after they'd made planting decisions for 2018, so the market will equilibrate over a period of time, and farmers will look at the markets and make their marketing and planning decisions the way they always do."

Perdue also addressed the farm bill, the giant spending package for agriculture-related programs such as crop insurance, some conservation initiatives and food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. He says - he's confident congress is going to get the farm bill done prior to the end of the year.

The previous farm bill expired Sept. 30 as the U.S. House and Senate work to reconcile different versions they passed.

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