USDA launches a $10 billion emergency aid program for farmers amid low prices

Money will soon be hitting accounts of farmers hurt by last year’s economy, as Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has released $10 billion, with row crop farmers set to get the most relief.

“Producers are facing higher costs and market uncertainty, and the Trump Administration is ensuring they get the support they need without delay. With clear direction from Congress, USDA has prioritized streamlining the process and accelerating these payments ahead of schedule, ensuring farmers have the resources necessary to manage rising expenses and secure financing for next season,” said Secretary Rollins.

They are part of the payments authorized by Congress late last year because there was no Farm Bill. Under the plan, the Farm Service Agency will give pre-filled applications to farmers, and they will use information from 2024 acreage reports.

Top payment rates are $43.91 for corn, $29.76 for soybeans, $30.69 for wheat, and $84.74 for cotton. Off the bat, farmers will get 85 percent of the payment they are owed in order to make sure there is enough money to go around. A second payment could come later in the summer.

Farmers do not have to wait for their pre-filled application to apply. They can contact their local FSA office to request an application, or they can click here!

Related Stories
Frontier Futures broker Adam Knosalla says USDA’s higher corn estimates reflected more harvest information replacing earlier trend-based assumptions.
Global food insecurity is projected to decline over the next decade as incomes rise and food price inflation eases, though regional challenges will persist.
USDA Under Secretary Dudley Hoskins highlights basic biosecurity steps as wild bird migration renews concerns about avian influenza in poultry and cattle.
USDA is awarding $86.6 million to 609 specialty crop projects across 56 states and territories to support research, marketing, food safety, and pest management.
Stronger demand for french fries and chips helped absorb more of the 2025 potato crop.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Higher corn and soybean prices helped improve farm loan repayment conditions during the third quarter.
Join the conversation on Wednesday, October 21, at 7:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm CT on RFD-TV to learn about potential sources of aid for older Americans.
Matt Frostic is bringing a farm-level perspective to E15, trade, the Farm Bill, and new corn markets as the new leader of the National Corn Growers Association.
Limb Buster founder Ryan Glenn explains how equipment-mounted saws can help farmers trim trees along fence rows and field edges from inside the cab.
Lower-cost grains are replacing corn in livestock feed as China’s hog sector weakens.
Below-normal inventories are expected to keep pressure on diesel prices through the winter.
Willingness to pay for beef climbed in September despite continued pressure on household budgets.
UGA climatologist Pam Knox says a strong El Niño could improve soil saturation in Georgia, but concerns about oversaturation could also affect or delay spring planting conditions.
USDA says the $13.8 billion total is before payment-limit reductions and a required 5.7% sequestration cut.
Nutrien eKonomics explains how farmers can rebuild low soil potassium, maintain levels above the critical value, and plan fertilizer applications.
Weaker pork demand and rising feed costs could put more pressure on producer margins in 2027.
The proposal would require data centers and other large users to cover infrastructure costs tied to their projects.