The Trump administration announced this week that it would make $12 billion available in the form of one-time payments to U.S. farmers to help weather what it calls “temporary trade market disruptions” in the wake of ongoing tariff disputes with America’s trading partners.

But Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, said this week the latest aid package is less than half the size of the one offered in response to trade disputes during Trump’s first administration. He said the money being offered now is not nearly enough to make up for the losses farmers are suffering.

“Tariffs are crushing farmers again,” Costello said in a statement. “Financial losses are worse this time around, yet the aid package is 50% smaller. We’re seeing repeated devastation with gre

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