I can start with $8 billion. That is a reassuringly definite number for Trump’s new Harvest Fuel Relief program. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the investment will bring farmers certainty during the harvest. Let’s see how much of that certainty fits on one farm.

CBS News reports that the program will cover part of estimated losses, using planted acreage, production costs, crop yields and prices. Fair enough: farms differ. A national announcement cannot simply be divided by the number of people who own a tractor.

But USDA will announce major commodity payment rates in November, with details for other eligible products to follow. The diesel bill is less shy. CBS puts the current national average at $6.32 a gallon.

There is something a farmer can do immediately: create a Login.gov account linked to USDA. Crop insurance is not required to qualify. An account, however, cannot yet tell you the rate USDA hasn’t announced.

I’m willing to call this preparation. Certainty seems a little ahead of the paperwork. The farmer can know the password before knowing what number it will eventually let them see.

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