Due to many unforeseen and drastic challenges and obstacles that have faced farmers in recent years, federal aid has grown to levels never seen before to ease the pain on the agriculture sector. And while more aid is expected from USDA with an additional replenishment in aid funds from Congress, the likelihood of the aid carrying forward into future years is becoming less likely as federal budget deficits have concurrently reached record levels, and general spending fatigue is setting in on Washington. The fortunate side of the equation is that market conditions appear to be improving with the "Phase 1" trade deal with China and other factors are leading to greater prices for most commodities.
With the aid also comes the critics, and a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is being cited by critics as to what is "wrong" with the aid delivered to date.
More below:
https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/14406-usda-huge-influx-of-federal-aid-shores-up-farm-earnings
https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/14469-gao-higher-payment-limits-for-2019-mfp-added-519m
https://agcouncil.net/news/new-gao-report-cited-by-critics-of-recent-farm-aid/