Second farm payment uncertain

The rest of the USDA farm aid payments are expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

Reuters reports the White House is pushing back the second round of payments since President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget has concerns over program costs and is waiting to see if Chinese trade issues get resolved. The $12 billion aid package is aimed at farmers impacted by the trade dispute between the U.S. and China.

The funds were authorized in July and Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said earlier this month that the budget office was still deciding on the second round of payments. A USDA spokesman was quoted as saying the agency was in the final stages of payment approval.