A shift in ad hoc payments to farmers might be coming

An ag economist says if the US government continues to cut spending, it could impact direct payments.

David Widmar with Ag Economic Insights says since 2018 ad hoc payments for the trade war, COVID-19 pandemic and weather disasters have averaged more than $17 billion annually, but that could change. “I think this pendulum could swing. We’re still going see ad hoc programs and money in the future, but probably not to this magnitude and probably not as large of a share when it comes to total payments coming the farm economy.

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