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USDA distributing $1 billion for specialty crop growers due to market disruptions

Posted 13 February 2026 at 7:37 pm

Apples, onions, cabbage among the crops eligible for payments

Press Release, US Department of Agriculture

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $1 billion in Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program assistance for specialty crops and sugar, commodities not covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program.

These one-time bridge payments will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports. Specialty crop producers have until March 13 to report 2025 acres to USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

“President Trump has the backs of our farmers, and today we are building on our Farmer Bridge Assistance program with the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program,” said Secretary Rollins. “Our specialty crop producers continue to feel the negative effects of four years under the Biden Administration, suffering from record inflation, a depleted farm safety net, and delayed disaster assistance.”

The Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program is authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and will be administered by FSA.

Eligible Specialty Crops

  • Almond, Apple, Apricot, Aronia berry, Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado
  • Banana, Bean (Snap or green; Lima; Dry edible), Beet (Table), Blackberry, Blueberry, Breadfruit, Broccoli (including Broccoli Raab), Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage (including Chinese), Cacao, Carrot, Cashew, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Cherimoya, Cherry, Chestnut (for Nuts), Chive, Citrus, Coconut, Coffee, Collards (including Kale), Cranberry, Cucumber, Currant
  • Date, Dry Edible Beans and Peas
  • Edamame, Eggplant, Endive
  • Feijou, Fig, Filbert (Hazelnut)
  • Garlic, Gooseberry, Grape (including Raisin), Guava
  • Horseradish
  • Kiwi, Kohlrabi
  • Leek, Lettuce, Litchi
  • Macadamia, Mango, Melon (All Types), Mushroom (Cultivated), Mustard and Other Greens
  • Nectarine
  • Okra, Olive, Onion, Opuntia
  • Papaya, Parsley, Parsnip, Passion Fruit, Pea (Garden; English or Edible Pod; Dry edible), Peach, Pear, Pecan, Pepper, Persimmon, Pineapple, Pistachio, Plum (including Prune), Pomegranate, Potato, Pumpkin
  • Quince
  • Radish (All Types), Raspberry, Rhubarb, Rutabaga
  • Salsify, Spinach, Squash (Summer and Winter), Strawberry, Suriname Cherry, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard
  • Taro, Tomato (including Tomatillo), Turnip
  • Walnut, Watermelon

ASCF payments are based on reported 2025 planted acres. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5 p.m. ET on March 13.

Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by the end of March. Crop insurance linkage will not be required for the ASCF Program. However, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) risk management tools to best protect against price risk and volatility in the future.

More information on ASCF is available online at www.fsa.usda.gov/fba or producers can contact their local FSA county office.