USDA Launches $1.6 Billion Aid Program for Specialty Crop Growers
Published Date: 6/1/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting June 1, 2026, the USDA is rolling out one-time payments to help specialty crop farmers cover higher costs and fight unfair trade practices from foreign competitors. This $1.625 billion boost supports farmers growing fruits, veggies, nuts, and more, making sure they stay strong in the market. If you grow specialty crops, get ready to apply and grab your share of the help!
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
One-time $1.625B Aid for Specialty Crops
The Commodity Credit Corporation will provide $1.625 billion in one-time bridge payments to producers of eligible specialty crops to help cover higher input costs and market disruptions. The program is effective June 1, 2026, and will be administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Per-Acre Payment Tiers Set by Crop
Payments are set by per-acre tiers: Tier 1 pays $650 per acre (crops with average revenue > $10,000/acre); Tier 2 pays $225 per acre (average revenue > $2,300 up to $10,000/acre); Tier 3 pays $65 per acre (average revenue up to $2,300/acre); and a Beans & Peas group pays $25 per acre. Eligible crops and their tier are listed in Table 1 of the rule.
Which Acres Count — Non-bearing & Indoor Rules
Eligible acres are 2025 planted acres timely reported on FSA-578 by April 24, 2026. For fruit and nut growers, both bearing and non-bearing acres are eligible. Acres grown in a controlled environment are excluded from payments except for mushrooms; cover crops, prevented planted, grazing, left standing, green manure, silage, forage, volunteer, and experimental uses are excluded. Repeat plantings, double-crops, initial and subsequent crops can all be eligible.
Payment Limits and Income Eligibility Cap
A person or legal entity may not receive more than $250,000 total in ASCF payments. A public school may not receive more than $250,000 per school, and total payments to all public schools in States with population over 1,500,000 cannot exceed $500,000. Producers with average adjusted gross income (average of 2021, 2022, and 2023 tax years) that exceeds $900,000 are ineligible for ASCF payments.
How Payments Are Calculated and Timing
Each producer's payment equals the payment rate for the eligible specialty crop multiplied by the producer's eligible acres of that crop (payment rate × eligible acres). CCC intends to issue ASCF payments to eligible producers beginning in June 2026 as applications are approved.
Basic Eligibility Rules to Receive Payments
To be eligible, a producer must have planted eligible specialty crops in the 2025 crop year and have timely filed Form FSA-578 with FSA by April 24, 2026. Eligible participants include U.S. citizens, resident aliens, certain partnerships and corporations made up of citizens/resident aliens, and Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations; Federal agencies are not eligible.
Application Dates and Deadlines Specified
Producers can obtain a pre-filled CCC-556 application via the electronic portal starting June 1, 2026 (June 8, 2026 for other producers). The CCC-556 must be returned by August 7, 2026. Required eligibility forms (CCC-901, CCC-902, CCC-941, AD-1026) must be on file or submitted by August 9, 2027, or the producer will not receive payment.
Recordkeeping, Spot Checks, and Repayment Rules
Participants must retain documentation supporting their application for 3 years after approval and allow USDA or GAO representatives to inspect records during regular business hours. If a payment resulted from erroneous information, it will be recalculated and excess must be refunded with interest; intentional misrepresentation will lead to disapproval and full refund with interest.
No Insurance Purchase Required to Participate
Producers are not required to purchase crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage to be eligible for ASCF payments. USDA encourages producers to consider available risk management tools but eligibility does not hinge on having insurance.
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