Delaware farmers selling certain crops can start applying now for relief from the Trump administration’s trade war with U.S. allies.
The sign up period for the mitigation program runs through mid-January. It includes crops such as soybeans, corn and dairy.
Delaware producers have been hit by retaliatory tariffs from other countries on some U.S. exports.
Those fees were added in response to Trump administration who earlier this year levied tariffs on imports into the country.
State Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse said he encourages farmers and hog producers to visit their county farm services office now to sign up so they can receive relief after harvest.
“Then all they would need to do would be to take to their harvest records in for a final time once harvest is concluded,” he said.
The federal government will give farmers payments based on the crop and the amounts harvested.
Scuse said the trade conflict with China is having the most serious impact on First State farmers.
“Hopefully the negotiations will continue and come to a conclusion in the near term so that we can get our U.S. products back into our number 1 agricultural market,” he said.
The government is promising up to $12 billion in assistance.
