By Clint Thompson and Dale Sandlin
The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program is allotting $12 billion in one time bridge payments to farmers in response to trade market disruptions and increased input expenses that are still impacting producers.
While $11 billion will be used to provide relief to row crop farmers, the remaining $1 billion will be used for commodities not covered in the FBA program, namely specialty crops. Specific details, including timelines for payments, are still being developed.
Richard Fordyce, USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator, talked about the specialty crop component of the FBA program during an interview with AgNet Media; specifically eligibility requirements and the paperwork needed to participate in the program.
Farmers who qualify for the FBA Program can expect payments to be released by February 28, 2026.