The Chief Economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation says the level of ad hoc support farmers have had to rely on is not sustainable.

John Newton says black swan events like the trade war, COVID-19 and natural disasters have forced farmers to rely on government assistance.

“We’ve had $33 billion in ad hoc support to the agricultural sector since 2018. That does not include CFAP2, that does not include WHIP or WHIP+, and that does not include any of the loans that could potentially be forgiven under the Paycheck Protection Program.”

Newton says 36% of net farm income has come from ad hoc payments like the Market Facilitation Program and the first round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

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