INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosier corn farmers were represented in the White House on Dec. 8 by Lebanon, Ind., farmer Tyler Everett, who was among the farmers in a roundtable discussion with President Donald Trump as the USDA’s Farmer Bridge Assistance program was unveiled.

Everett is vice president of the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA). He recently hosted USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on his farm. Everett represented thousands of Indiana corn farmers and thousands more from across America at the roundtable discussion. Seven other U.S. farmers who produce a variety of crops also attended the roundtable.

Trump said the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program is intended to support farmers who have endured low crop prices and the impact of the president’s tariff policies. The program offers $11 billion in one-time payments to farmers who produce corn, soybeans, wheat, beef, potatoes, rice, sorghum and cotton. The remaining $1 billion is set aside to help farmers who produce crops not listed in the program.

Trump said the program is being funded from revenue gained through tariffs on foreign products. Rollins announced that farmers would receive payments by Feb. 28, and many farmers would find out how much assistance they will receive within the next few weeks. She added that this should allow U.S. farmers to plan for the spring planting season.

USDA said the bridge payments are intended in part to aid farmers until historic investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including reference prices which are set to increase 10-21 percent for major covered commodities such as soybeans, corn, and wheat and will reach eligible farmers on Oct. 1, 2026.

The $12 billion in farmer bridge payments, including those provided through the FBA Program, are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act and will be administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), USDA said.

“Obviously this assistance helps, and the timing of it is good as we prepare for planning our spring planting,” Everett said. “We thank President Trump and Secretary Rollins for listening to us. With this year’s harvest, we completed a very challenging financial year. I believe most of us who produce crops would prefer to have free and fair markets around the world to export what we grow. I believe the administration is working toward that goal.”

Along with his father, Everett owns and operates Everett Farms and Seed near Lebanon, Ind. He produces corn and soybeans on his multigenerational farm. Rollins visited Everett’s farm in late October to announce that China had agreed to purchase 12 million metric tons of soybeans in 2025, then 25 million metrics tons each during 2026 and 2027. But increased soybean exports aren’t the only crisis facing farmers. Everett said making E15, a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline, would also benefit farmers without government assistance.

“The policies that come from Washington do affect my farm, my family and my daughter’s future,” Everett explained. “Ethanol is a lifeline to that future. In Indiana, nearly half of our corn goes to ethanol. E15 cannot be sold year-round in many states. It is a safe and proven fuel. All U.S. vehicles can run cleanly and efficiently on E15. Making E15 sales available year-round is a common-sense step that will keep family farms afloat and strengthen our homegrown fuel supply. Let’s make year-round E15 a reality.”