Cotton, rice top per-acre rates for crops eligible for farmer assistance program

Rice and cotton will receive the highest rates among row crows in Farmer Bridge Assistance rates announced by USDA.

The rates, announced Dec. 31, are part of the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program announced last month by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. Eleven billion of that consists of one-time payments, which Rollins said will be distributed by Feb. 28.

The remaining $1 billion will be reserved for commodities including specialty crops and sugar, according to the USDA, “though details including timelines for those payments are still under development and require additional understanding of market impacts and economic needs,” the department said on its website in the Dec. 9 program announcement.

Farmers had until Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. to report 2025 acreage.

Per-acre payment rates for FBA-eligible commodities are:

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

FBA payments are based on 2025 planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production, and the World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate Report, according to USDA.

Producers, including specialty crop producers and stakeholder groups, can submit questions to farmerbridge@usda.gov.

Specialty crop uncertainty

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) joined other organizations in calling for specialty crop relief. The SCFBA, a national coalition of more than 150 organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, is co-chaired by Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association; Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers; and Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council.

SCFBA applauded a Dec. 18 letter (.pdf) sent by the Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus  to the U.S. House and Senate agricultural committees urging immediate relief for specialty crop producers.

“After months of uncertainty, specialty crop growers urgently need clarity and meaningful relief, and we appreciate the Specialty Crop Caucus for elevating this issue and making clear that specialty crops must be included in any relief package for American agriculture,” the co-chairs of the SCFBA said. “Specialty crops are both an economic engine and the source of the most nutritious foods in the American diet, but current policies fail to reflect their importance to public health and food security.”

Quarles told Spudman in late November that the need for specialty crop relief is “very substantial,” with estimates showing that russet potato growers alone may be underwater to the tune of $486 million.

“And that’s just one variety,”  he said.