USDA assistance for specialty crop farmers

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $1 billion in Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program support for specialty crops and sugar, commodities not covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance program.

These one-time bridge payments will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports.

Specialty crop producers have until March 13 to report 2025 acres to USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

“President Trump has the backs of our farmers, and today we are building on our Farmer Bridge Assistance program with the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program. Our specialty crop producers continue to feel the negative effects of four years under the Biden administration, suffering from record inflation, a depleted farm safety net and delayed disaster assistance,” Rollins said.

“If our specialty crop producers are not economically able to continue their operations, American families will see a decrease in the food they rely on, wholesome and nutritious fruits and vegetables.

“‘Putting Farmers First’ is essential to the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement and we are doing both at USDA by expanding market opportunities and improving the farm economy for all producers.

“This specialty crop announcement builds on our efforts to improve markets for real food into American schools, institutions and family dinner tables.”

The ASCF Program is authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and will be administered by FSA.

Eligible Specialty Crops

ASCF-eligible specialty crops include: almond, apple, apricot, aronia berry, artichoke, asparagus, avocado, banana, bean (snap or green; lima; sry edible), beet (table), blackberry, blueberry, breadfruit, broccoli (including broccoli Raab), brussel sprouts, cabbage (including Chinese), cacao, carrot, cashew, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, cherimoya, cherry, chestnut (for nuts), chive, citrus, coconut, coffee, collards (including kale), cranberry, cucumber, currant, date, dry edible beans and peas, edamame, eggplant, endive, feijou, fig, filbert (hazelnut), garlic, gooseberry, grape (including raisin), guava, horseradish, kiwi, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, litchi, macadamia, mango, melon (all types), mushroom (cultivated), mustard and other greens, nectarine, okra, olive, onion, opuntia, papaya, parsley, parsnip, passion fruit, pea (garden; English or edible pod; dry edible), peach, pear, pecan, pepper, persimmon, pineapple, pistachio, plum (including prune), pomegranate, potato, pumpkin, quince, radish (all types), raspberry, rhubarb, rutabaga, salsify, spinach, squash (summer and winter), strawberry, Suriname cherry, sweet corn, sweet potato, Swiss shard, taro, tomato (including tomatillo), turnip, walnut, and watermelon. Dry edible beans and peas covered by FBA will not be eligible for ASCF.

ASCF payments are based on reported 2025 planted acres. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5 p.m. ET on March 13.

Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by the end of March.

Crop insurance linkage will not be required for the ASCF Program. However, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act risk management tools to best protect against price risk and volatility in the future.