Iowa farmers are hopeful that a $16 billion assistance package recently announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help mitigate financial stress resulting from trade disputes, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Craig Hill said last week. However, he said farmers still would much rather see a resolution to disagreements with China and other key trading partners.

“While another round of financial assistance may help keep some farms in operation, our members have made one thing very clear: They prefer trade over aid,” said Hill, who attended a White House press conference where President Donald Trump announced the payment program. “As the cost of running our farms continues to rise, to remain sustainable, farmers need access to global markets for their products, and securing trade deals will have a much larger and long-term on-farm impact than temporary aid.”

The USDA-led trade assistance program announced last ...