Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 11/18/19

USDA is launching a second tranche of trade relief payments to farmers and ranchers affected by President Donald Trump's bruising tariff fight with China, with checks expected to land in farmers' hands by Thanksgiving, your host reports.

The Trump administration has already paid farmers at least $6.7 billion for their 2019 production (on top of $8.6 billion provided for last year's production, plus additional trade relief efforts like commodity purchases and marketing assistance).

— The first set of 2019 payments, which started over the summer, covered the first 50 percent of a farmer's eligible production; the new funds announced on Friday will cover an additional 25 percent.
— A possible third tranche of aid for the 2019 production year could be distributed starting in January based on trade and market conditions.

Having it both ways? Trump talked up the new round of payments in a Sunday tweet — even as he noted that the ag-trade outlook is improving. "Our great Farmers will recieve [sic] another major round of 'cash,' compliments of China Tariffs, prior to Thanksgiving," Trump wrote. "The smaller farms and farmers will be big beneficiaries. In the meantime, and as you may have noticed, China is starting to buy big again. Japan deal DONE. Enjoy!"

But, but, but: Senate Democrats argue the trade aid program has unfairly favored big farms over smaller producers, along with boosting foreign-owned conglomerates like Brazil's JBS and disproportionately helping certain regions and commodity sectors over others. Senate Agriculture ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said in a statement that she was "disappointed the Trump administration has not corrected the serious inequities" in the program.