UPDATE (March 31, 2026): The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced the agency is reopening the 2025 crop acreage reporting period required for specialty crop producers who want to apply for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. The deadline has changed from March 13 to April 24, 2026.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released key details of the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program and additional assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF).
New Structure
The USDA assistance marks a significant shift from how federal farm support, particularly the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, was delivered under the previous administration:
- Targeted crop eligibility: Unlike earlier programs where all specialty crops were broadly eligible, eligibility is now defined by a specific list of covered crops for each program.
- Per-acre payment structure: Payments are not based on revenue losses; they’re calculated as flat per-acre rates for each eligible crop planted in 2025.
Why are you being asked to provide acreage?
Under this program, USDA will provide payments to producers based on individual crops that they plant, with each crop getting a different payment rate. As a result, you will need to accurately report the crops you grew, along with the number of acres you grew of each crop, to determine total payment. You can visit your USDA county office for assistance here.
Note: Paperwork from the previous program does not carry over. All producers interested in an economic relief payment will need to report their 2025 specialty crop acreage by April 24, 2026.
ASCF crop-specific rates will be announced at the end of April/early May.
Deadline
Specialty crop producers have until April 24, 2026, to report 2025 acres to USDA’s FSA. Western Growers recommends farmers should immediately ensure their FSA crop reports are accurate and complete. For more information about the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, click here.
For any questions, you can contact Dennis Nuxoll, VP, Federal Government Affairs, at [email protected].