The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be providing up to $250 million in aid for rice farmers across the country as part of a new program expected to launch this spring.

The program involves producers being provided with information early to simplify and streamline the application process, according to a Feb. 28 news release. It will be based on data on file with the USDA, and includes planted acres and acres prevented from being planted.

“USDA intends to use the streamlined approach it has utilized on other disaster programs to speed program implementation," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. “By leveraging Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency data for the Emergency Relief Program, USDA saved farmers and staff significant time, and we think this approach will help us provide an initial payment more quickly with a final payment after the application period has closed. I appreciate Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman’s assistance bringing together rice farmers from across the country to provide input on how to expedite and simplify the process.” 

Farmers who qualify for a higher payment limitation can take action now, the release reported. The payment limitation for the program is set by law and is higher if a farmer’s average adjusted gross farm income is higher than 75% of their overall adjusted gross income. 

AGI is based on the three previous taxable years, according to the release. Farmers who have 75% of more AGI from farming qualify for a payment limit of $250,000. Otherwise, they cannot receive more than $125,000 in payments.

Full details of the program and application will be available later this year when a Notice of Funding Availability is published in the Federal Register, the release reported. The application is expected to simplify the application process and make it easier for farmers to sign up.