Farmer Bridge Assistance Payment Rates Revealed

The FBA program is part of the $12 billion allocated to support the farm sector so far in 2026. The USDA announced on December 31 the final details of the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program that farmers had been waiting for, including commodity payment rates. This is the latest in a list of ad hoc programs for economic and disaster assistance for farmers either distributed or in the works throughout 2025, totaling more than $30 billion. The FBA program is part of the $12 billion allocated to support the farm sector so far in 2026 and is intended to compensate farmers for “temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs.” Additionally, these payments will serve as “bridge” aid until potential Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program payments reach farmers in October. Higher support levels for farmers from ARC and PLC are likely because of changes to those programs made in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including higher reference prices. For many commodities, the USDA forecasts current market prices to be below their respective payment trigger levels, generating payments for the 2025 program year, which will be paid in October. The current phase of the FBA program, targeting row crops, is intended to distribute approximately $11 billion of the $12 billion total. The remaining $1 billion is reserved for commodities not covered under the initial phase of the FBA program such as specialty crops and sugar crops. The program, timeline and other details for distributing the $1 billion to specialty crops is still being determined and is expected to be announced at a later date. Eligible Crops and Acres The FBA program pays based on 2025 planted acres as reported to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) by December 19, 2025. Any acreage reported after that deadline is ineligible for these FBA payments. Unlike in the prior Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), prevent planted acres are not eligible for FBA payments. All intended row crop uses are eligible for FBA except grazing, volunteer stands, experimental, green manure, crops left standing, and abandoned or cover crops. Double- or subsequent-crop acres, such as soybeans following wheat, are eligible for this program. The following crops will receive FBA payments: barley, canola, chickpeas, corn, cotton, flax, lentils, mustard, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, safflower, sesame, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat. The per-planted-acre rates range from $8.05 for flax to $132.89 for rice. Payment Formula and Rates The FBA program bases payment rates on modeled economic losses, subject to the money available. A similar method was used for the ECAP program from early 2025. A portion of this modeled loss is what is compensated under the FBA program. Acreage data from the FSA, production cost estimates from the USDA Economic Research Service, prices and yields from the USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, and other information were used by the USDA to make these estimates. The per-planted-acre rates range from $8.05 for flax to $132.89 for rice. Payments and Limits For those who qualify, payments are expected around February 28. A statement by Secretary Brooke Rollins said farmers could expect these payments in their bank account by that date, while the FSA website notes payments will start being issued on that date. Either way, farmers can expect these payments sometime in late February or early March. A payment tool is available on the FSA website to help farmers estimate their payment. However, the FSA will provide prefilled applications using existing data. These will reportedly be available the week of February 23. The FBA payment limit is $155,000 per producer or entity, subject to the average adjusted gross income (AGI) limits. An AGI limit of $900,000 applies to these FBA payments, above which a person or legal entity (including corporations, LLCs, S corps or trusts but excluding joint ventures and general partnerships), is ineligible. Farmers will not be required to purchase crop insurance after applying for and receiving a payment under this program, unlike the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program. However, I encourage farmers to consider the enhancements to various crop insurance programs provided in the OBBBA and decide if those are right for your farm. Your Farm Credit insurance agent can help you evaluate these program changes and what they mean for your farm. Midwest and Plains states, where the largest acreage of payment-eligible commodities are located, are projected to receive the highest overall dollar value of support from the FBA program. Texas is projected to receive the highest overall dollar value ($1.035 billion), primarily because of cotton’s comparatively higher payment rate, but wheat is also an important contributor. Iowa ($893 million), Kansas ($851 million), Illinois ($835 million) and North Dakota ($752 million) round out the top five given their scale of corn, soybeans and wheat, but also because of a variety of smaller crops in the case of North Dakota. Barley, oats, canola, peas, lentils, sunflowers and chickpeas collectively add an estimated $100 million to North Dakota’s estimated payment totals. These estimated totals do not account for potential payment limits, so actual totals could be smaller than estimated. California is projected to have the highest weighted average per-acre payment rate at $81, given its high share of rice. While ranking far down the list in total payments, California is projected to have the highest weighted average per-acre payment rate at $81, given its high share of rice. California farmers are expected to benefit more heavily from the remaining $1 billion that is to be paid out to specialty crops. I estimate total payments to be approximately $10.6 billion. Altogether, I estimate total payments to be approximately $10.6 billion based on December 1, 2025, FSA-reported acreage and listed exclusions before accounting for payment limits. These limits are likely to be binding for some farmers, reducing total program payments. However, acreage reported through the December 19 deadline is eligible for payments, so if additional acreage were reported between December 1 and 19, that could increase total payments relative to what I have estimated. However, it is hard to say if or by how much total payments could be less than $11 billion. What Farmers Should Do Now Now: Farmers who want to estimate their payment may use the payment tool on the FSA site, keeping in mind which acres are eligible and their farm structure to determine where payment or income limits apply. Around Last Week of February: Prefilled applications will be available from the FSA. Verify and submit the FBA program application when available. End of February: Payments are expected to follow soon after applications are submitted, with the USDA’s goal for them to be available by February 28. If you have sugar crops or specialty crops, watch for program details to be announced in the months ahead. If you have sugar crops or specialty crops, watch for program details to be announced in the months ahead as the USDA assesses how to distribute the remaining approximately $1 billion.