Farmer Bridge Assistance
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins announced earlier this month the USDA will make $12 billion available in one time bridge payments to American farmers. This is in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. Secretary Rollins shared some details about the program.
Rollins… “ We are going to be effectuating an $11 billion bridge payment to our farmers. The money will move by February 28th, 2026, but by the end of this month, so just in the next couple of weeks, every farmer that is able to apply for it, we'll know exactly what that number looks like. So as you are going to your lender, as you are working to ensure and understanding what you can plant for next year, you will have that number.”
Under Secretary Richard Fordyce added some additional helpful information for producers.
Fordyce… “ We plan to use prefilled applications. Payment limitations will be consistent with the oval levels of $155,000 per person or legal entity, and an HEI limitation of $900,000, and that is for the eligibility test and not to increase payment limitation. Producers should ensure their 2025 acreage reports are accurate by December 19th because those acres are the basis for payment calculations.”
Fordyce said commodity-specific payment rates will be released later this month.
