Perdue Comments on Payment Rate For Corn Producers In Trump Tariff Aid Package

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue responded to criticism from a top corn producers group of his agency's trade aid plan for farmers, insisting the level of assistance corresponded with calculations of economic damage caused by new tariffs.National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Kevin Skunes, told USDA Sec. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday he is disappointed corn growers stand to receive a penny per bushel for losses incurred in the summer's trade disputes. Skunes said the federal government's $12 billion aid package fails to calculate losses corn growers have suffered from tariffs — especially on ethanol and dried distillers’ grains, a high-protein ethanol byproduct fed to livestock."Prices have declined about 44 cents a bushel — or $6.3 billion," Skunes said referencing an industry study. "We don't feel it's fair and equitable."Perdue responded that the calculations are based on "actual tariff disruption damage to the crop,” adding, "The numbers are the numbers. …These are the calculations you have to defend in court," considering the possibility of a World Trade Organization (WTO) challenge, Perdue said. "The damages they've had from tariff retribution has been minimal."