Ag Policy Blog

USDA on Friday announced the payment rates and enrollment period for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. Due to demand, USDA also announced that the total payments to those growers will climb to $1.625 billion.

USDA had originally announced that $1 billion had been set aside for specialty crop growers. Groups representing those farmers and some lawmakers had argued that more funding was needed for specialty crop losses. USDA stated the payments were increased by $625 million "in response to elevated input costs and market disruptions resulting from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impeded specialty crop exports."

The payments to specialty crop growers are being made to deal with marketing losses in the 2025 growing season.

HOW TO APPLY

USDA continues to encourage farmers to use a Login.gov account for their enrollment and to receive their payments more quickly. Farmers who have a Login.gov account can access and submit their prefilled application starting June 1. Producers who do not have a Login.gov account or who prefer to enroll in person at their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office can request their prefilled application beginning June 8. The ASCF enrollment period closes on Aug. 7, 2026.

"Building on the success of the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, we are using an expedited program application and payment process through the One Farmer, One File system to ensure specialty crop producers also receive the necessary financial assistance as quickly as possible, while we work to build a more robust market with lower input costs and more opportunities," Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a news release.

Payments will be issued as applications are submitted and approved, beginning as early as the first week of sign-up.

Login.gov is the public's one account for government. Producers can use one account and password for secure, private access to participating government agencies, including FSA.

Producers who have an existing Login.gov account can work with FSA using their existing account. Producers can create an account by going to www.fsa.usda.gov/ascf.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Specialty crop acres of eligible crops reported to FSA as an initial, double crop, repeat crop or subsequent crop by April 24, 2026, will be used to determine ASCF program payments.

Acreage not eligible to determine ASCF payments includes acres reported as a cover crop, prevented planting or with an intended use of grazing, left standing, green manure, silage, forage, volunteer or experimental acres.

For a list of eligible specialty crops, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/ascf.

Specialty crops grown in a controlled environment are not eligible, except for mushrooms.

Crop insurance linkage is not required; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the risk management tools, including provisions expanded last year in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

PAYMENT TIERS

FSA used the national average revenue per crop as a metric for developing the ASCF program payment categories and payment rates listed below. Crops fall under different categories, as well, so check with the website for that information.

-- Tier 1 - $650 per acre. Includes eligible specialty crops with an average annual revenue of more than $10,000 per acre.

-- Tier 2 - $225 per acre. Includes eligible specialty crops with an average annual revenue of more than $2,300 per acre and up to $10,000 per acre.

-- Tier 3 - $65 per acre. Includes eligible specialty crops with an average annual revenue of up to $2,300 per acre.

-- Beans and Peas - $25 per acre. Includes all types of beans and peas that were not eligible for the FBA program.

For more information on how revenue per acre was calculated, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/ascf.

The ASCF payment limitation is $250,000.

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

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