After a difficult year, federal assistance is now available to help row crop and specialty crop farmers. The Farmer Bridge Assistance program and the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program have been authorized to distribute $11 billion and $1 billion, respectively.
Applications for the Farmer Bridge Assistance program opened on Feb. 23, with one-time payment distributions beginning Feb. 28.
Farmer Bridge Assistance
Adam Rabinowitz, a specialist with Alabama Extension at Auburn University, said farmers are currently making planting decisions for 2026, and the timing of this funding could help guide those choices.
“When it came time to balance the books after harvest, a lot of farmers were in the red in 2025,” Rabinowitz said. “Federal legislation that increases safety nets for row crop producers has been approved, but those payments can’t be made before October 2026. So, the Farmer Bridge Assistance program provides a very needed, one-time bridge payment to help farmers who struggled because of high production costs, low commodity prices, and trade disruption.”
The program covers major commodities including:
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Corn
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Cotton
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Peanuts
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Soybeans
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Wheat
Rabinowitz noted that, on average, row crop farmers lost more than $100 per acre on these crops.
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Cotton: average loss of $385.88 per acre
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Soybeans: average loss of $101.56 per acre
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Peanuts: average loss of $183 per acre
“It just cost much more to produce the crop last year than farmers were able to make selling their commodities,” he said.
Eligible producers can apply online through Login.gov or submit applications through their local Farm Service Agency offices.
Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers
Rabinowitz emphasized that financial struggles are not limited to row crop producers.
“Fruit, vegetable, and tree nut farmers who don’t even have a typical safety net are also facing financial challenges, which is why the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program was created,” he said.
This program covers a wide range of crops, including:
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Blueberries
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Peaches
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Pecans
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Tomatoes
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Squash
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Strawberries
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Sweet potatoes
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Watermelons
Additional program details are expected by March 31.
More Information
For more details, farmers can read the Extension Brief titled “Financial Assistance Available for Row Crop and Specialty Crop Farmers”, available online at aces.edu.
This funding aims to provide a critical financial bridge for farmers recovering from a year marked by high costs, low prices, and economic strain.
