U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the release of a second round of payments totaling up to $1.3 billion for specialty crop producers. These funds are dispensed through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, with the first round having delivered nearly $900 million to eligible producers.
“President Trump is again putting farmers first,” stated Secretary Rollins. She added, “After a thorough review of USDA funding for certain programs to ensure they align with the President’s policies and uphold our commitment to responsible distribution of American taxpayer dollars, USDA resumed MASC payments. I am happy to announce this second round of support for specialty crop producers today and we are thankful for the work they do to produce the safest, most abundant food supply for our families and the world.”
The MASC program was initiated in December 2024, allocating $2 billion through the Commodity Credit Corporation to help specialty crop growers manage increasing input costs and expand domestic markets. Acknowledging stakeholder feedback and growing demand, funding for MASC was increased to $2.65 billion by January 2025. The application period for this program closed on January 10, 2025.
MASC is structured to support specialty crop producers in managing higher marketing costs associated with perishability, specialized handling and transport requirements, packaging needs to prevent damage, expedited market delivery, and elevated labor costs. Eligible producers include those dealing with fresh and dry fruits, a variety of vegetables, tree nuts, and other specified specialty crops.
