U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced on National Agriculture Day that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will distribute up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. This initiative, managed by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), aims to help farmers cope with rising input costs and declining commodity prices.
"Producers are facing higher costs and market uncertainty, and the Trump Administration is ensuring they get the support they need without delay," stated Secretary Rollins. "With clear direction from Congress, USDA has prioritized streamlining the process and accelerating these payments ahead of schedule, ensuring farmers have the resources necessary to manage rising expenses and secure financing for next season."
The economic relief payments are authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities in 2024. To simplify ECAP delivery, FSA will send pre-filled applications to producers who submitted acreage reports for eligible commodities soon after the signup period begins on March 19, 2025. Producers can also apply online or contact their local FSA office once registration opens.
Eligible commodities include wheat, corn, sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton & extra-long staple cotton, long & medium grain rice, peanuts, soybeans among others with specified per-acre payment rates.
To qualify for ECAP assistance, producers must report their 2024 crop year planted and prevented planted acres using an FSA-578 form by August 15, 2025. Applications should be submitted to local FSA county offices by this deadline. Only one application is required nationwide for all eligible commodities.
Required forms include Form AD-2047 (Customer Data Worksheet), Form CCC-901 (Member Information for Legal Entities if applicable), Form CCC-902 (Farm Operating Plan), Form CCC-943 (75% Average Gross Income Certification if applicable), AD-1026 (HELC/WC Certification), and SF-3881 (Direct Deposit). Producers uncertain about their form status or needing to submit new forms should contact their local FSA office.
ECAP payments will be issued as applications are approved with initial payments factored at 85% to ensure funding limits are not exceeded. If funds remain available after initial disbursements, a second payment may be issued.
For further details or payment estimates using an online calculator, producers can visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap.
FSA provides support to America's farmers through various programs aimed at improving agricultural operations across the nation. More information is available at fsa.usda.gov.
