Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 8/1/18

Nearly six in 10 voters surveyed say they favor President Donald Trump's plan to offer $12 billion in federal aid to U.S. farmers and ranchers suffering as a result of the administration's tariffs and subsequent trade retaliation, a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll finds.

By the numbers: The survey of nearly 2,000 registered voters showed that 57 percent either somewhat or strongly support the farmer aid package, which USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue rolled out last week.

Support was also particularly strong among rural voters, 63 percent of whom reacted favorably to the plan.

Mixed feelings: Producers from Illinois, California and North Dakota have told POLITICO the $12 billion package is an overdue acknowledgement from the Trump administration that its trade battles with China and other U.S. trading partners is inflicting real damage to their bottom lines. But they've repeatedly said they'd prefer to get their money by selling their products in open markets.
Free trade, with a caveat: Respondents to the poll appeared to generally lean in favor of free trade. More than two in five responded that free trade agreements have had a somewhat or very positive impact on the U.S., while roughly one-quarter said trade deals have harmed the country.

But nearly half of respondents, or 48 percent, also supported the use of tariffs on foreign goods that compete with goods made in the U.S. In contrast, 32 percent said they somewhat or strongly oppose imposing tariffs on foreign-made goods the compete with American-made products.