(CNN) The government is starting to pay farmers that have been hurt by the fallout of President Donald Trump's widening trade feuds.

The USDA announced Monday that it would release an initial $4.7 billion payment, and buy $1.2 billion of surplus food.

The move is part of a larger, $12 billion aid program that was announced in July . Since then, American farmers have been waiting for details about how the money would be disbursed.

Many countries have slapped tariffs on American commodities in retaliation to the Trump administration's move to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from much of the world, as well as on many goods from China.

$4.7 billion of direct payments will go to corn, cotton, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean, and wheat producers. Farmers can begin requesting the aid on September 4, the US Department of Agriculture The initial$4.7 billion of direct payments will go to corn, cotton, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean, and wheat producers. Farmers can begin requesting the aid on September 4, the US Department of Agriculture said