# Trump Makes Midterm Pitch to Farmers

> Trump unveils $8 billion farm aid to calm farmers amid Iran war and trade chaos.
- Title: Trump Makes Midterm Pitch to Farmers · Foreign Policy
- Summary: Trump unveils $8 billion farm aid to calm farmers amid Iran war and trade chaos. Trump announced an $8 billion aid package to help farmers facing high diesel…
- Keywords: trump, farmers, iran war, diesel prices, trade chaos, midterm elections, usda, farm bureau federation, senator roger marshall, kansas, Makes, Midterm
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/20/trump-farmer-bailout-midterms-diesel-prices-iran-war
- Author: Christina Lu
- Published: 2026-10-21T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: trump, farmers, iran war, diesel prices, trade chaos, midterm elections, usda, farm bureau federation, senator roger marshall, kansas
## Trump's Midterm Farm Pitch
President Trump unveiled an $8 billion economic aid package for farmers at a Kansas rally on Monday.
## Farmers Struggle with Costs
Farmers face surging diesel and fertilizer prices driven by the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
## Bailout Details
The aid covers one-time payments to shield farmers from market reactions and higher input costs, according to the USDA.
## Trump's Promise
Trump pledged to pass more funding for farmers if Republicans win the November elections.
## Band-Aid Fix
The aid is a temporary fix as the Iran war remains the key driver of global energy shortages.
## Farmers' Frustration
A September survey found only 48 percent of farmers believe the U.S. is headed in the right direction, down from 74 percent in July 2025.
## Economic Pressure
Farm bankruptcy filings have risen as farm debt, now over $600 billion, has more than doubled in the last two decades.
## Farm Bureau Response
The Farm Bureau Federation welcomed the aid but noted it is a temporary solution to ongoing issues.
## Government Support
Government funding for agriculture reached $55 billion in 2026, including an $11 billion pending request.
## Farmers' Concerns
Over half of farmers cite higher input costs as their top concern, with 35 percent expecting worse finances next year.
## Critical Senate Races
Kansas and Texas have highly competitive Senate races where rural votes are decisive.
## Key takeaway

Trump announced an $8 billion aid package to help farmers facing high diesel and fertilizer costs due to the Iran war and trade disruptions.