2026 General Assembly: Week 1

The 2026 General Assembly session is underway! Virginia Farm Bureau’s Government Relations team is tracking the top issues that matter most to our members, and we’ll be bringing you weekly updates right here. 👉 Tune in each week to stay informed on the top priorities we’re working on for Virginia agriculture.

Farmer Bridge Assistance Payment Rates Announced

The USDA has released per-acre payment rates for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program. Eligible producers will receive pre-filled applications and payments by February 28, 2026.

Payment Rates by Commodity

CommodityRate per Acre
Rice$132.89
Cotton$117.35
Oats$81.75
Peanuts$55.65
Sorghum$48.11
Corn$44.36
Wheat$39.35
Chickpeas (Small)$33.36
Soybeans$30.88
Chickpeas (Large)$26.46
Safflower$24.86
Lentils$23.98
Canola$23.57
Mustard$23.21
Barley$20.51
Peas$19.60
Sunflower$17.32
Sesame$13.68
Flax$8.05

Key Eligibility Information

Eligible Acres:

  • Based on 2025 planted acres
  • Double crop acres qualify (both initial and subsequent plantings)
  • Prevent plant acres are NOT eligible

Eligible Uses:

  • All intended row crop uses EXCEPT: grazing, volunteer stands, experimental, green manure, crops left standing and abandoned, or cover crops

Crop Insurance:

  • NOT required for FBA payments
  • USDA strongly recommends utilizing new risk management tools from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Specialty Crops and Sugar

The remaining $1 billion is reserved for specialty crops and sugar producers. Payment timelines are still under development.


Important Resources

📧 Questions: farmerbridge@usda.gov

🌐 Program Information: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/fba

📍 Local Support: Contact your USDA FSA county office