USDA Announces $1 Billion Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers

(Washington, D.C., February 13, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins unveiled today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allocate $1 billion to support specialty crop farmers through the new Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program. This initiative aims to provide assistance to farmers managing specialty crops and sugar, which were not covered by the previously introduced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program.

“President Trump has the backs of our farmers, and today we are building on our Farmer Bridge Assistance program with the ASCF Program. Our specialty crop producers continue to face major challenges from four years under the Biden Administration, suffering the impacts of soaring inflation, a weakened farm safety net, and slow disaster assistance,” said Secretary Rollins. “The administration is committed to countering these pressures and ensuring that American families have access to fresh, nutritious produce. Our dedication to farmers is crucial to the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ initiative.”

Program Objectives and Importance

The launched program aims to address various economic challenges such as market disruptions, inflated input costs, and unfair trade practices that inhibit exports. Secretary Rollins emphasized the importance of supporting farmers to sustain food availability for American families as part of a broader effort to improve the overall farm economy.

Eligibility Criteria and Reporting Requirements

Farmers involved in specialty crop production have until March 13, 2026, to report their 2025 acres to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Eligible Specialty Crops

The following specialty crops are covered under the ASCF Program:

• Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Aronia Berries, Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocados
• Bananas, Beans (Snap or Green; Lima; Dry Edible), Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Breadfruit, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage, Cacao, Carrots, Cashews, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Cherimoya, Cherries, Chestnuts (for Nuts), Chives, Citrus, Coconut, Coffee, Collards, Cranberries, Cucumbers, Currants
• Dry Edible Beans and Peas (Note: Those covered by FBA are not eligible for ASCF)
• Eggplants, Endives, Figs, Filberts (Hazelnuts), Garlic, Gooseberries, Grapes, Guavas
• Horseradish, Kiwis, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Litchi
• Macadamias, Mangos, Melons, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens
• Nectarines, Okra, Olives, Onions, Papayas, Parsley, Parsnips, Passion Fruit, Peaches, Pears, Pecans, Peppers, Persimmons, Pineapples, Pistachios, Plums, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Pumpkins
• Quinces, Radishes, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Rutabagas, Salsify, Spinach, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Taro, Tomatoes, Turnips, Walnuts, Watermelons

Payment Structure and Recommendations

Payments under the ASCF program will be based on the reported acres for 2025. Eligible farmers are encouraged to ensure the accuracy of their acreage reports before the deadline of 5 p.m. ET on March 13, 2026. Payment rates specific to each commodity will be announced by the end of March.

While linking crop insurance is not a requirement for the ASCF program, the USDA advocates that producers utilize the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) for risk management to safeguard against future market volatility.

Further Information

For more details on the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program, please visit www.fsa.usda.gov/fba or reach out to your local FSA county office.

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