Jake Zajkowski, DTN Ag Policy Editor, and Chris Clayton, DTN Ag Business Editor

WASHINGTON (DTN) -- The White House on Wednesday asked Congress to pass a supplemental funding package that includes a request for $11.1 billion for farmers and calls for Congress to pass year-round E15.

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent a request for $87.6 billion in supplemental funding to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. The lion's share of that request -- $67.1 billion -- was for the War Department.

In the letter, though, President Donald Trump and his staff requested $10 billion in "temporary economic assistance for row and specialty crops planted in crop year 2026." An additional $1.1 billion was requested specifically for farmers in Florida "to rebound from devastating losses that were the result of crippling storms this past winter."

The aid request comes after senators had indicated they were looking at providing as much as $17 billion in economic aid to farmers.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., didn't include such aid in his farm bill package released Tuesday, but he applauded Trump for the request.

"I have been calling for emergency assistance to help producers manage this uncertainty, and this proposal is an important step to providing support," Boozman said. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure we deliver the resources required to keep our farmers farming."

Scott Metzger, an Ohio farmer and president of the American Soybean Association, also stated that ASA appreciates that Trump is addressing "the economic headwinds" farmers are facing.

"It is no secret that farm country is struggling, and this temporary economic support will go a long way to provide farmers with economic stability as we look forward to the harvest season," Metzger said.

The $10 billion in economic aid for row-crop farmers comes after USDA earlier this year created the $11 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program for commodity growers and also announced $1.6 billion in aid for specialty crop farmers.

E15 DETAILS

Trump's request included calling on Congress to pass year-round E15. In pressing for some policy changes, the White House stated that passing year-round E15 is "an urgent and needed policy change that would expand consumer choice, support domestic fuel production, and provide additional flexibility in fuel markets."

The House passed a stand-alone E15 bill on a bipartisan 218-203 vote in mid-May, but the Senate has yet to take any action. E15 language was not included in the Senate version of the farm bill introduced this week.

Biofuel groups such as the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy, looking for any sign of traction in the Senate, immediately raised the White House request and called on the Senate to take action.

CBD PLAN

The White House also called on Congress to update the definition of hemp-derived cannabinoid (CBD) products "to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products" while maintaining restrictions on products that pose serious health risks. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service oversees the hemp program, but Congress last year passed a provision that would severely restrict the sale of CBD products.

FARMER EVENT AT WHITE HOUSE

Trump also will host farmers and ranchers from around the country at a White House dinner on Thursday night as the Trump administration looks to keep agriculture's support ahead of the midterm elections.

The event will highlight the president's focus on agricultural trade and will help kick off the Great American State Fair at the National Mall that begins on Thursday.

In a statement to DTN, the White House said farmers and ranchers from at least 16 states will attend the dinner. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are all expected to attend. Lawmakers expected to attend are Boozman, along with Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, as well as Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.

The White House will tout Trump's "America First Trade Agenda," which the White House stated "has created unprecedented global markets access for America's farmers. The background material listed 10 countries that have reduced or eliminated tariffs on U.S. agricultural products: Ecuador, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Japan, United Kingdom, India, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Argentina and Vietnam.

The White House background material stated, "Since Liberation Day, President Trump has increased market access to over 2 billion consumers, with U.S. food and agricultural exports rising by double digits in 2025."

That is an inaccurate statement, at least according to USDA's own agricultural export and import data. Agricultural exports fell by $5 billion in 2025 to $171.5 billion overall. For the first four months of 2026, agricultural exports have rallied, increasing by 5% compared to the first four months of 2026.

The trade deficit fell in the first four months of 2026, primarily because the value of agricultural imports has fallen by 11%. The agricultural trade deficit through April stood at $7.5 billion.

The White House will also highlight tax cut changes that benefited farmers in last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as well as the FBA payments to farmers.

"There is no greater champion for American farmers, growers, and ranchers than President Trump, who has negotiated new, fair trade deals, lowered input costs, bolstered the farm safety net, eliminated the death tax, ended taxes on rural property loan interest, and created rural opportunity zones," said Olivia Wales, a White House spokeswoman. "For 250 years, hardworking farmers have fueled our nation, and President Trump continues to take action to help America's farmers thrive again."

At the same time, USDA's farm income forecasts don't project a major rally in 2026. Net farm income is projected to drop slightly -- 0.7% -- for 2026, according to USDA. Cash receipts to farmers will drop, mainly due to lower income in livestock receipts, but much of that overall income decline will be offset by higher government payments, USDA stated in May's income forecast.

For more on the farm bill, see "Farm Groups Signal Key Farm Bill Fights: A $17 Billion Economic Aid Package Likely Outside of Farm Bill" here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Jake Zajkowski can be reached at Jake.Zajkowski@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @Jzajkow

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN

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