Trump administration will make $8 billion in fuel relief payments available to farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $8 billion in emergency diesel relief to American farmers during the 2026 harvest season, according to a news release from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Rollins stated that this one-time payment will bring certainty to farmers as they work to feed the nation. President Trump has been described as the "most pro-farmer president of my lifetime" by Rollins, who emphasized that he continues to prioritize farmers daily.

Current U.S. diesel prices are above $6 per gallon, having increased from $6.2665 per gallon last Monday to $6.3187 per gallon yesterday. Despite President Trump's recent agreement with President Putin to export about 2.2 million barrels of diesel to the United States and other countries, prices have continued to rise. This deal is part of a series, with 3.7 million barrels planned for November and 7.5 million barrels in the near future.

Prior to this agreement, President Trump lifted the federal tax on red-dye diesel, which farmers use, to help lower retail diesel prices for all drivers. However, this tax deferral has not significantly reduced prices, and may have even increased demand for diesel used by farmers among other drivers. The federal diesel tax is currently $0.244 per gallon, which adds up to $60 for a 250-gallon fill, as reported by the White House.

The Harvest Fuel Relief program, the name given to this latest initiative by the Department of Agriculture, aims to cover a portion of estimated losses during the 2026 crop year. Farmers are encouraged to submit reports of their fuel costs to the department to be considered for the relief payments.