The USDA revealed how much farmers will receive from a one-time bridge payment as part of the Trump administration’s bailout package, with many growers concerned that the level of assistance won’t be enough to address volatility in 2026.
The Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA) will provide farmers with $12 billion in financial assistance, based on 2025 planted acres, the World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate Report, and the Economic Research Service cost of production, as AgTechNavigator previously reported.
Ahead of the new year, the USDA revealed commodity rates it will pay based on crops and acres in a press release.
Rice, cotton, and oat growers will receive the largest payments per acre, receiving $132.89, $117.35, and $81.75, respectively. Flax, sesame, sunflower, and pea farmers will receive the smallest payments at $8.05, $13.68, $17.32, and $19.60 per acre, respectively.
“These one-time payments give farmers the bridge to continue to feed and clothe America and the world while the Trump Administration continues opening new markets and strengthening the farm safety net. USDA is making this process as simple and seamless as possible so producers can focus on what they do best – feeding and fueling our nation,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins shared in a press release.
Payments are expected to reach growers by Feb. 28, but the USDA is still developing a separate timeline for the $1 billion allocated to specialty crop growers, the agency shared.
ASA on FBA: ‘Farmers need strong, reliable markets’
Trade groups and associations were quick to respond to the commodity rates, with many thanking the administration for the assistance but calling on the government to improve farmers’ access to markets.
The American Soybean Association (ASA) questioned the level of assistance, stating that payment “will not cover the significant financial damage soybean farmers sustained,” in 2025, the group shared in a press release. Soybean growers will receive $30.88 per acre, lower than the average payment of $41.31 for all crops with commodity rates.
“ASA is grateful to the Trump administration and USDA for recognizing the economic losses farmers are experiencing, but due to significant trade losses this year, the payment rate for soybeans will likely not be enough for soybean farmers to keep their operations financially solvent as we move into the next planting season,” said Scott Metzger, ASA president and Ohio farmer, in a statement.
He added, “While the assistance provides some relief, farmers need strong, reliable markets to guarantee the long-term success of the U.S. soybean industry. We urge the Trump administration to focus on immediate, achievable actions, which will support domestic soybean markets, including finalizing policies that create a preference for soy-based biofuel feedstocks through the 2026-2027 Renewable Volume Obligations, robust biomass-based diesel volumes, and 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit tax guidance. Reliable markets depend on policies that grow demand, strengthen rural economies, and provide certainty for the next generation.”
Similarly, the IL Corn Growers Association commended the USDA for the work on the programme but held the same market access concerns, the association shared in a press release.
“Illinois corn growers, like farmers across the country, have been dealing with several years of low commodity prices paired with high input costs, which continues to strain farm finances,” Mark Bunselmeyer, president of IL Corn Growers Association, said in a statement.
Bunselmeyer added, “While this assistance is welcome and needed, it does not replace the long-term solutions farmers depend on. We urge the administration and Congress to focus on policies that grow domestic and international markets and provide greater economic certainty for growers.”
2025: A year of volatility for farmers
Soybean farmers became a flashpoint in the Trump administration’s trade policy, as China pushed back on importing U.S. soybeans in favour of Brazilian supplies in retaliation for tariffs, as AgTechNavigator reported.
As trade tensions cooled, China agreed to purchase 12 million tons of soybeans from the U.S., with the Asian country purchasing approximately two-thirds of that amount already, according to Bloomberg reporting.
