USDA Announces $12 Billion Farmer Bridge Payments

USDA will provide $12 billion in one-time bridge payments to eligible U.S. farmers affected by market disruptions and rising costs.

2 days ago

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $12 billion in one-time bridge payments to support American farmers affected by market disruptions and rising production costs. The program is intended to provide short-term assistance while longer-term farm safety net investments under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) take effect.

The announcement was made December 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C., by President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, members of Congress, and farmers from multiple states.

Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program

Up to $11 billion of the total funding will go to the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which supports producers of row crops affected by market disruptions. The program calculates payments based on modeled 2025 crop year losses using data from FSA acreage reports, cost estimates, yields, and prices.

Eligible crops include:

Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, Sunflower

Key points for producers:

No separate application is required; USDA will calculate payments from your 2025 acreage report on file with FSA.
Acreage reports must be accurate and submitted by 5 p.m. ET, December 19, 2025.
Payments are expected no later than February 28, 2026.
Crop-specific payment rates will be published later this month.
Crop insurance participation is not required for eligibility.

Funding for Specialty Crops, Sugar, and Other Commodities

The remaining $1 billion is reserved for commodities not covered under FBA, including specialty crops and sugar.
Details and timelines for these payments are still under development.

Administration and Contact

Payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act and will be administered by FSA.
Producers with questions or requests for information can contact farmerbridge@usda.gov.