The USDA will provide $12 billion in one-time bridge payments to American farmers facing market disruptions and elevated production costs.

What Farmers Need to Know

The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program will distribute up to $11 billion to row crop producers of barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, rice, soybeans, wheat, and other covered commodities. Payments are expected by February 28, 2026.

Action Required: Farmers must ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is accurate by 5 p.m. ET on December 19, 2025. Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by month’s end.

The remaining $1 billion is reserved for specialty crops and sugar, with details still under development.

Building on Historic Farm Support

This bridge program comes on top of over $30 billion in disaster and economic assistance already delivered in 2025, including:

• $9.3 billion through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program
• $6 billion in supplemental disaster relief
• $1.8 billion for specialty crop producers

These payments are designed to support farmers until the benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect in October 2026, which raises reference prices for major commodities by 10-21%.

Trade Wins and Market Access

The administration has secured trade agreements with more than 15 countries, opening new markets for American agricultural products:

• Japan committed to $8 billion in agricultural purchases
• China resumed large purchases of soybeans and sorghum
• The EU agreed to purchase $750 billion in American energy while addressing barriers for pork and dairy
• Thailand eliminated tariffs on 99% of U.S. goods, including most agricultural products

Additional Actions for Farmers

The Trump Administration has also:

• Reduced H-2A farm labor costs, saving at least $2 billion initially
• Provided nearly $1 billion in Section 32 commodity purchases for food assistance
• Signed an executive order targeting price fixing and anti-competitive behavior in agricultural markets
• Expanded crop insurance support, saving farmers over $400 million annually

Questions?

Producers can submit questions or request meetings by emailing farmerbridge@usda.gov.