Recent News & Blog / USDA Announces $12 Billion in Bridge Payments for Farmers Impacted by Unfair Market Disruptions
December 10, 2025
On December 8, 2025, President Donald Trump, together with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (AR), and several senators and farmers representing various states, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $12 billion in one-time bridge payments to American farmers. This measure is designed to address the ongoing challenges caused by temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs are continuing to affect farmers across the country.
These bridge payments are designed to support farmers until the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) takes full effect and will include reference prices that are set to rise by 10-21% for major covered commodities like soybeans, corn, and wheat, reaching eligible farmers on October 1, 2026.
The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program
Of the $12 billion allocated, as much as $11 billion will support the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program. This initiative extends comprehensive aid to American row crop farmers raising crops such as barley, corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, chickpeas, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame, and sunflower.
The purpose and structure of the FBA Program
The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program is specifically crafted to help mitigate the negative effects of temporary market disruptions, rising input costs, ongoing inflation, and losses suffered due to unfair trade practices by foreign competition.
The FBA Program provides simple, proportional financial support to eligible producers through a uniform formula. This formula is designed to cover a portion of the modeled losses during the 2025 crop year and ensures that assistance is distributed fairly and predictably among participants.
To determine payment amounts, the program calculates a national loss average. This average is derived from a combination of key data sources, including planted acreage reported to the Farm Service Agency (FSA), production cost estimates from the Economic Research Service, and yield and price information from the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
Allocation of the remaining funds
Of the $12 billion allocated for bridge payments, $1 billion is specifically set aside for commodities that are not covered under the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program. This includes specialty crops and sugar, ensuring that producers of these products also have access to support. Currently, the timeline and procedures for disbursing these funds are still under development. Further evaluation of market conditions and economic needs is ongoing to determine the most effective way to distribute these resources.
All $12 billion in farmer bridge payments, including those distributed through the FBA Program and the portion reserved for other commodities, are authorized by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is responsible for administering these payments and overseeing the implementation of this comprehensive support initiative.
Timely next steps for eligible farmers
To apply for the new Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, you generally don't need to submit a new application; instead, ensure your 2025 crop acreage reports are accurate and filed with your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by the December 19, 2025 deadline, as USDA uses existing data for payments, with funds expected by February 28, 2026.
Contact your local FSA office for eligibility, forms, or email farmerbridge@usda.gov with questions about this $12 billion aid for market-disrupted farmers.
Although enrollment in crop insurance is not required to participate in the FBA Program, the USDA strongly encourages all producers to take advantage of the new risk management tools provided under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Utilizing these tools can help safeguard farm operations against future price fluctuations and market volatility.
We’re here to help
If you have questions, our dedicated Agribusiness team is here to help. We are committed to providing clear answers and addressing your concerns.
Please reach out directly to any member of our Agribusiness team, your SEK Client Relationship Manager, or you may complete the contact form below, and a team member will respond promptly.