# Lawmakers may expand USDA spending authority to enable farm aid package | Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.

> Agri-Pulse reports the Trump administration wants to use Section 32 tariff-funded authority to pay farmers, but a fiscal 2018 appropriations cap limits direct payments to $350 million. Senator Hoeven is working on changes to USDA spending authority, and some lawmakers say at least $20 billion could be needed.

- Date: 2025-10-01 · published 2025-10-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: policy · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/22383-lawmakers-may-expand-usda-spending-authority-to-enable-farm-aid-package-agri
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

Legal limits on Section 32 payments mean Congress must act before large aid can flow, so the effect on feed-grain prices remains indirect and uncertain.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: neutral
- CORN: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2025-08-27 | [USDA considering 'bridge' payments for farmers  \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23303-usda-considering-bridge-payments-for-farmers-agri-pulse-communications-inc.md) | +3.6% | +8.1% |
| CORN | 2017-03-15 | [Ag groups urge boost in farm bill spending \| 2017-03-15 \| Agri-Pulse \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/71993-ag-groups-urge-boost-in-farm-bill-spending-2017-03-15-agri-pulse-agri-pulse.md) | +1.0% | +1.9% |
| CORN | 2025-03-31 | [Rollins: We need to know trade impacts before deciding farm aid \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25555-rollins-we-need-to-know-trade-impacts-before-deciding-farm-aid-agri-pulse.md) | +0.4% | +4.2% |
| CORN | 2025-10-15 | [Government payments create funding cliff for farmers \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/22381-government-payments-create-funding-cliff-for-farmers-agri-pulse-communications.md) | +0.1% | +2.9% |
| CORN | 2020-06-26 | [Daybreak: June 26: Key lawmaker calls for new farm bill \| 2020-06-26  \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52596-daybreak-june-26-key-lawmaker-calls-for-new-farm-bill-2020-06-26-agri-pulse.md) | +4.6% | +0.9% |
| SOY | 2025-08-27 | [USDA considering 'bridge' payments for farmers  \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23303-usda-considering-bridge-payments-for-farmers-agri-pulse-communications-inc.md) | -1.2% | -1.9% |
| SOY | 2017-03-15 | [Ag groups urge boost in farm bill spending \| 2017-03-15 \| Agri-Pulse \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/71993-ag-groups-urge-boost-in-farm-bill-spending-2017-03-15-agri-pulse-agri-pulse.md) | +1.4% | -4.9% |
| SOY | 2025-03-31 | [Rollins: We need to know trade impacts before deciding farm aid \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25555-rollins-we-need-to-know-trade-impacts-before-deciding-farm-aid-agri-pulse.md) | -4.5% | +2.8% |

## Sources

- agri-pulse.com: https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/23531-lawmakers-may-expand-usda-spending-authority-to-enable-farm-aid-package

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.