FBA Signup Details Released

ARLINGTON, Va. (DTN) -- Enrollment for the $11 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program will begin on Monday for commodity producers, USDA announced on Friday.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the ad-hoc FBA program will hold open enrollment from Feb. 23 to April 17. Farmers who want to expedite their payments can apply online through the program website to receive their payments as early as Feb. 28. Farmers who already have relationships with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will have pre-filled applications available online.

"Improving the farm economy is our top priority at USDA, and we have simplified and streamlined the application process for the bridge program to ensure producers get the financial assistance they need as quickly as possible as we're kicking off the spring planting season," Rollins said.

USDA detailed the per-acre payments at the end of December. FBA payments will go to farmers based on 2025 planted acres. The formula created for payments was based on the World Agricultural Supply & Demand Estimate (WASDE) report, as well as reports on planted acres. USDA noted prevented planting acres are not eligible for FBA payments.

For producers of the largest commodity crops, the per-acre payments break down as follows:

-- Corn, $44.36 an acre.

-- Soybeans, $30.88 an acre.

-- Wheat, $39.35 an acre.

-- Cotton, $117.35 an acre.

-- Sorghum, $48.11 an acre.

-- Barley, $20.51 an acre.

-- Rice, $132.89 an acre.

The payment limit will be $155,000 per entity or individual. Unlike other aid programs, USDA will not require "linkage" for crop insurance to receive a payment. USDA, though, also "strongly urges" farmers to use crop insurance and noted certain insurance policies were improved under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

These bridge payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and are administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Bridge payments are intended in part to help farmers see stronger ARC/PLC payments next fall.

Pre-filled applications will be available online to producers with a Login.gov account who timely filed their 2025 crop acreage report for eligible commodities. Additionally, producers can also request their pre-filled FBA application from their FSA county office, USDA stated.

April 17, 2026, is the deadline to submit completed FBA applications. Producers can complete FBA applications online or submit applications at their local FSA county office.

USDA earlier this week also provided details on specialty crops. Those producers have until March 13 to report 2025 acres to receive payments under the $1 billion Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program the Trump administration has set up for crops not covered through the FBA.

Also see, "USDA Tells Specialty Crop Growers to Report Acres for Aid," https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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