President Trump and Secretary Rollins announced a $12 billion one-time bridge package to help farmers manage severe economic strain from foreign market disruptions, inflation, and record-high input costs. The program supports producers until strengthened safety-net provisions under the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) take effect in October 2026, including a 10–21% increase in reference prices.
Funding Breakdown
• $11 billion – Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA) for major row crops.
• $1 billion – Specialty crops & other commodities not covered under FBA.
Eligibility & Requirements
• Eligible crops: barley, chickpeas, corn (including silage), cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum,
soybeans, wheat, canola, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame, sunflower, crambe.
• Not eligible: livestock, wool, tobacco, prevent-plant acres.
• 2025 planted acres must be reported to FSA by December 19, 2025 (5 p.m. ET).
• Must have AD-1026 conservation compliance form on file.
• AGI limit: $900,000. Payment limit: $155,000 per person/legal entity.
Payment Structure
• Payments are proportional and uniform across eligible crops.
• Calculated using 2025 planted acres, USDA cost-of-production data, WASDE market projections, and USDA economic loss modeling.
• Double-crop acres ARE eligible.
• Payment rates announced late December 2025.
• Pre-filled applications will minimize producer burden.
• Payments expected by February 28, 2026.
• Payments ARE taxable.
Specialty Crop Allocation ($1B)
• USDA is collecting loss data from specialty-crop groups.
• Funding will be sector-specific and based on documented losses.
• Stakeholders may submit info using the email provided in USDA’s press release.
Key Clarifications
• Crop insurance indemnities do NOT affect payments.
• No involvement from county tax offices except rare new-record cases.
• Fall 2024-planted winter wheat harvested in 2025 IS eligible.
• Payments are not first-come, first-served; all eligible producers will receive full payments.
• USDA received full-year funding—payment timelines will NOT be impacted by a government shutdown.
Timeline
• December 19, 2025: Acreage reporting deadline
• Late December 2025: Payment rates released
• Early 2026: Rulemaking + application rollout
• February 28, 2026: Payments issued
For questions or to submit loss data: eia@usda.gov