North Dakota Senator John Hoeven is working with the USDA and the White House on the new trade aid. He confirms funding for the $15 billion range of aid would come through the Commodity Credit Corporation, funded by tariffs. “We are working on the details right now and I think it will be a combination of things,” says Hoeven. “We’ve talked about a Market Facilitation Program payments, also direct purchases and trade assistance.” The new aid could be better for other crops. “I’ve talked to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue about basis, a big factor in North Dakota, about crops like canola that didn’t get assistance, but are directly impacted (by the trade war),” says Hoeven. “That’s why we’re looking at a combination of things to help with crops impacted.”
