The Trump administration unveiled a $12 billion relief package for U.S. farmers Wednesday, addressing trade disruptions and elevated production costs that have persisted following years of unfavorable market conditions and policy decisions.
President Donald J. Trump, alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, announced the initiative alongside key congressional agriculture leaders and farmers from eight states. The bridge payments are designed to provide temporary relief while farmers await historic investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will increase reference prices 10-21% for major commodities beginning October 1, 2026.
Up to $11 billion will flow through the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which covers 20 row crop commodities including corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice, and peanuts. The program addresses market losses from unfair foreign trade practices, persistent inflation, and elevated input costs using a uniform formula based on planted acreage, production costs, yields, and economic modeling.
Eligible farmers can expect payments by February 28, 2026. The USDA is urging producers to ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is accurate by 5 p.m. ET on December 19, 2025. Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by month's end.
The FBA Program does not require crop insurance linkage, though the USDA strongly encourages farmers to utilize new risk management tools available through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to protect against future price volatility.
The remaining $1 billion will support specialty crops and sugar, though payment details and timelines for those commodities are still under development pending further market analysis.
National Farmers Union President Rob Larew acknowledged the relief while emphasizing the need for long-term solutions. "We appreciate the administration's decision to deliver economic assistance to family farmers and ranchers at a time of serious stress," Larew said. "Short-term payments, while important, are only a first step. What we truly need are long-term structural fixes that restore viability and stability to family farms and ranches for generations to come."
Iowa Corn Growers Association President Mark Mueller, a farmer from Waverly, Iowa, expressed appreciation for the immediate relief while emphasizing longer-term needs. "The Iowa Corn Growers Association appreciates the Trump Administration's Farmer Bridge Assistance program that is helping alleviate stress from Iowa's corn farmers that are currently facing economic challenges due to low commodity prices, high input prices and market access challenges," Mueller said. He called for Congress to pass the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 to expand year-round access to 15% ethanol blends, and urged the administration to continue securing new trade opportunities for corn and corn products.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall emphasized the critical nature of the assistance. "Farmers are grateful to President Trump and Secretary Brooke Rollins for providing resources that, for many, could make the difference between staying in business to plant another crop, or shuttering a family farm," Duvall said. He noted that farmers face compounding pressures from high household and operating costs alongside historically low crop prices, with farmers expected to lose $34 billion this year alone. "The assistance announced today will make an immediate impact by providing a lifeline for farmers who work to ensure a healthy, safe and abundant food supply."
