By Hope Kirwan
Sara Stetler grows soybeans and corn, along with vegetables like green beans and peas, on her Waushara County farm.
Speaking to WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” she said there’s not much she can do to change the amount of fuel needed to harvest her crops this fall and get ready for next season.
“You just kind of grit your teeth and do what you got to do,” Stetler said.
U.S. farmers are expected to pay nearly 29 percent more for fuel and oil expenses this year, according to the latest federal forecast. That’s due in large part to the disruption to global markets from the U.S. and Israel’s war in Iran.
Now, the Trump administration is promising farmers help to shoulder the increased costs through new one-time payments.
The Harvest Fuel Relief program will distribute $8 billion to U.S. farmers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement.
The program is expected to be similar to the Trump administration’s Farmer Bridge Assistance program, which distributed $12 billion earlier this year. That program prioritized funding for row crops like corn, soybeans, rice and cotton.
The American Farm Bureau Federation applauded the new assistance and said they would work with the Trump administration to ensure livestock producers and specialty crop growers also receive aid.
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