USDA Working on Second Aid Package of Up To $20 Billion

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters Wednesday that the agency was working on a second aid package for $15 billion to $20 billion. Speaking to reporters from South Korea, Perdue said the aid plan is being modeled by the effort covering 2018 crops – the Market Facility Program (MFP). USDA last year pledged up to $12 billion in assistance for 2018 production. "Our calculations initially probably range between $15-and-$20 billion," Perdue said. Regarding the price tag, Perdue said it is based on an "early estimation of the trade damage based on our calculations from last year," adding, “We’ve asked our economists at USDA to be very precise" and that the total will be "legally defensible." Perdue stressed USDA was taking into account feedback from last year's trade aid package, including feedback from corn, wheat and other commodity groups, some who were not pleased with the amount of assistance their farmers received under MFP. Regarding when the aid plan will be announced, Perdue did not provide an estimate, but said USDA was "expediting" its work at President Trump's request.