National Farmers Union President Rob Larew speaks at the annual South Dakota Farmers Union Convention on Dec. 11, 2025 in Huron, South Dakota. (Photo by Meghan O’Brien/South Dakota Searchlight)

HURON — Farmers across the country may soon receive a share of a $12 billion farm aid package, as promised by President Donald Trump earlier this week. Some South Dakota farmers say it’s not the change they want to see.

“I would rather have trade deals than bailouts,” said Michael Miller, a farmer from Freeman.

It’s a sentiment many other farmers echoed at an annual meeting Wednesday for the South Dakota Farmers Union. Trump’s “bridge payments” are meant to help farmers who struggled to sell crops during tariff-related market disruptions, such as China’s temporary boycott of U.S. soybean purchases.