The $11 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program was the row-crop portion of a $12 billion aid package announced in December 2025. USDA had initially said qualifying producers were expected to receive payments by February 28, 2026, but that date has passed: applications closed April 17, 2026. The latest dated USDA payment figure in the available official releases was more than $9.4 billion paid as of April 13, 2026—not a current October total and not proof of any individual farmer’s payment status.
What the $11 billion figure meant
FBA was a one-time bridge-payment program administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for eligible row-crop producers. It was part of the $12 billion farmer-aid package announced by President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on December 8, 2025. USDA described the aid as short-term support amid market disruptions and production costs, pending benefits from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Those are USDA’s stated rationale and framing, not a promise of recurring payments. USDA’s December 2025 announcement explains the package and its formula.
When payments were expected—and what the timeline became
USDA initially said qualifying farmers were expected to receive payments by February 28, 2026. The program subsequently opened enrollment on February 23, with applications due by April 17. The application period is now closed. The February date was an expectation announced at the time, not a current deadline or assurance that every eligible producer would be paid by then.
- December 8, 2025: FBA was announced as the $11 billion row-crop component of a $12 billion package.
- December 19, 2025: Deadline to report eligible 2025 crop acreage for FBA purposes. Acres reported late were not eligible.
- December 31, 2025: USDA published commodity rates and reiterated the expected February 28 payment timing.
- February 23–April 17, 2026: FBA enrollment period.
- April 13, 2026: FSA reported that more than $9.4 billion had been paid by that date.
- October 4, 2026: FSA’s program page indicates applications are closed and provides payment-status and dashboard links.
The $9.4 billion figure is a dated progress report, not a live balance. FSA’s FBA page links to the payments dashboard for the latest published aggregate information.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match#1 Best Overall
Who qualified for FBA
USDA’s rules required a producer to be actively engaged in farming, have risk in and an interest in an eligible planted commodity, and have reported eligible 2025 acres by December 19, 2025. A crop’s presence on the eligible list alone was not enough: the acres also had to meet the program’s reporting and use rules.
Eligible commodities
FSA listed barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame, and sunflower. Chickpea rates differed for small and large varieties.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Excluded acres and uses
- Prevent-plant acres did not qualify.
- Acres used for grazing, experimental purposes, green manure, left standing, or cover crops were excluded.
- Double-crop and subsequent-crop acres could qualify when they otherwise met program requirements.
FSA also listed a $155,000 payment limit per producer and an average adjusted gross income exclusion for producers above $900,000 under the program’s stated rules. Consult the FSA program page for the applicable definitions and requirements.
How FSA calculated the payment
The payment was a flat rate for each eligible reported acre, multiplied by the producer’s eligible acres for that commodity. FSA said no payment factor applied. Rates were based on reported 2025 acreage, USDA Economic Research Service production-cost data, and the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. The per-acre rate is not a per-bushel or per-farmer award; a producer’s total depends on eligible acres and the applicable rate, subject to the program cap.
FSA’s February 2026 fact sheet listed these rates:
| Commodity | FSA rate per eligible acre |
|---|---|
| Barley | $20.51 |
| Chickpeas, small | $33.36 |
| Chickpeas, large | $26.46 |
| Corn | $44.36 |
| Cotton | $117.35 |
| Lentils | $23.98 |
| Oats | $81.75 |
| Peanuts | $55.65 |
| Peas | $19.60 |
| Rice | $132.89 |
| Sorghum | $48.11 |
| Soybeans | $30.88 |
| Wheat | $39.35 |
| Canola | $23.57 |
| Flax | $8.05 |
| Mustard | $23.21 |
| Safflower | $24.86 |
| Sesame | $13.68 |
| Sunflower | $17.32 |
| Crambe | No rate: FSA said no 2025 crop acres were reported. |
| Rapeseed | No rate: FSA said it did not trigger an eligible loss. |
Rates are those listed in FSA’s FBA program materials; use its calculator and current information to check a farm’s specific circumstances. Without eligible acreage and the applicable rate, an individual award cannot be determined from the headline or the aggregate payments total.
Rank #4
How to check an application or payment
- Open the FSA FBA page and follow its application or payment-status link.
- Sign in with the secure Login.gov account associated with the FSA application to see individual status.
- If you are unsure whether required forms are on file or cannot resolve a status question online, contact your local FSA county office.
The program is closed to new standard applications. A dashboard total describes program-wide payments; only the account-based status check or FSA office can address an individual producer’s record.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the program drew both support and calls for more
Farm organizations differed in emphasis. American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall welcomed the aid as potentially decisive for farms planning another crop. American Soybean Association president Caleb Ragland called it a “positive first step” while stressing the need for longer-term, market-driven certainty. The National Farmers Union and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition also welcomed short-term assistance while arguing it was not sufficient by itself. The Center for American Progress criticized the package as a band-aid and connected the need for aid to trade policy. These are attributed advocacy positions, not findings about the program’s effects. Successful Farming’s report published these reactions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
