Trump announces $8B relief program for farmers

President Trump announced Monday that a new $8 billion program will help provide temporary relief to farmers during the harvest season.

Trump announced the Harvest Fuel Relief Program during his rally in Kansas stumping for GOP Sen. Roger Marshall, who is running for reelection in a competitive race against his Democratic opponent Adam Hamilton.

He said the $8 billion is “in support to offset diesel costs during this harvest season.”

“Roger Marshall is the leader who fought for that to happen,” he said. “Roger got it to happen.”

The $8 billion will be available for one-time payments to farmers, a release from the Agriculture Department said.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the program will deliver “critical support to farmers facing rising costs and market disruptions.”

Farm state Republicans have been pushing for the administration to do something about the high diesel prices amid the war with Iran.

The current average price for diesel is roughly $6.32 per gallon, according to AAA . The average price a year ago for diesel was $3.63 per gallon.

Trump has also tried other initiatives to lower high diesel costs. Earlier this month, he announced steps to increase the availability of red-dyed diesel .

The diesel has red dye added to it to signal that it is tax exempt. It’s typically used in farm and construction equipment.

While some Republicans have called for a pause to diesel exports, Trump said earlier this month that he would not authorize an export ban on diesel.

“We were never going to do it,” he told reporters earlier this month.