Farmers in Idaho are dealing with the fallout from retaliatory tariffs as part of the U.S.-China trade war. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s relief program sent money to farmers across the country last year.
In Idaho, eight out of the 10 largest payments went to dairy farms in the Magic Valley. That’s according to a database published by the Idaho Statesman.
Some of these dairy farms received more than the USDA’s intended cap of $125,000 per farm because of how they classified their operation or how many business partners they listed. Box Canyon Dairy was paid the most in the state at $395,000. Yet many farms did not receive much money at all through this program — a farm in Lapwai got only $2.
Overall, farmers say the relief program funds were not enough to make up for their losses. Rick Naerebout of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association told the Statesman several dairy farms in the Magic Valley have had to close so far this year, in part due to the trade disputes.
The Trump administration recently annouced another $16 billion in trade mitigation for all farmers, as well as a program for dairy farmers struggling with low milk prices.
Find reporter Rachel Cohen on Twitter @racheld_cohen
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