It’s been nearly three years since Donald Trump spoke at the American Farm Bureau’s annual convention, where the Republican strutted like a man who assumed he was among adoring fans. “Oh, are you happy you voted for me,” the president said, straying from the prepared text. “You are so lucky that I gave you that privilege.”

It wasn’t long, however, before Trump launched a misguided trade war, which had the predictable effect of hurting much of the domestic agricultural industry. It wasn’t long before we started seeing reports on “farm-state fury” over the White House’s agenda.

The president’s solution has been straightforward: he’s repeatedly directed billions of dollars to farmers, and as the New York Times reports today, “government money is flowing faster than ever” now that Trump needs farmers’ electoral support.