President Donald Trump promised 8 billion dollars in new Harvest Fuel Relief for farmers at a midterm rally near Wichita, Kansas, on Monday night, tying the money to surging diesel costs and to a Senate race that has suddenly become competitive.
Speaking at the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, Trump said the Department of Agriculture would launch the program to offset diesel costs during this harvest season, blaming disruptions to global energy supply from attacks by Iran and its proxies, according to reports. The rally doubled as a campaign stop for Senator Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, in a contest the Cook Political Report now rates a toss-up.
Relief tied to the farm economy and the ballot box
Trump credited Marshall with pushing for the package. The USDA said after the speech it would make 8 billion dollars available for one-time payments to American farmers, with proportional support based on modeled losses during the 2026 crop year, administered by the Farm Service Agency, according to reports. Trump also highlighted a recent executive order waiving the off-road requirement for red-dyed diesel, letting farmers and truckers buy the fuel tax-free.
Kansas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932, but the Marshall race against Democrat Adam Hamilton has drawn heavy outside spending, and Trump urged supporters to “pretend” he was on the ballot to boost turnout, according to reports.
A pattern of pre-election promises
The announcement is the latest in a series of financial pledges ahead of the November midterms, including a proposed 5,000 dollar payment to all adult citizens if Republicans keep Congress, and a 90 dollar one-time Medicare payment to more than 20 million Americans, according to reports. Trump compared the farm relief to the 12 billion dollar Farmer Bridge Assistance program earlier this year.
Reuters noted Trump’s approval has been low over his handling of the high cost of living, with fuel prices elevated during the US-Israeli war on Iran. For rural voters feeling those costs at the pump and in the field, the relief may matter more than the politics behind it.
