By With funding cuts being made to federal agricultural programs, many in the U.S. farming industry have been worried about their livelihoods. Luckily, the U.S. Department of Agriculture now offers relief to some producers dealing with financial loss from the 2024 season. Keep reading to learn more about the program that will help commodity crop producers, plus how to apply to receive payments.
What is the USDA Emergency Commodity Assistance Program?
The Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) was created after the American Relief Act of 2025 was passed by Congress in late 2024, reports AGWeek.com. The legislation means that $10 billion in payments will be available for farmers of eligible crop commodities. (A commodity crop is a plant grown in large quantities that is used for the processing of various products.)
These payments will help the agricultural community by offsetting the increased input costs and falling prices the farmers now receive for their goods.
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall told FarmandDairy.com that the funding will help farmers who are “facing low commodity prices while wrestling with inflation, high interest rates and increased supply costs.” The past few years, farmers have lost money on major crops, so these payments mean much-needed relief for the industry.
Which farmers qualify for the $250K relief payment?
The USDA shares that to be eligible for payments from the program, an agricultural producer must meet the requirements below:
- Be an active farmer
- Have an interest in input expenses for an eligible commodity
- Have reported their acreage of the eligible commodity to the Farm Service Agency for the 2024 crop year. (If not already done, an acreage report must be filed by the application deadline.)
- Have reported a 2024 loss (where you were prevented from planting) if applicable.
- Grow any of the following commodities:
- Barley
- Corn
- Cotton
- Dry Peas
- Grain sorghum
- Lentils
- Large chickpeas
- Oats
- Peanuts
- Rice
- Small chickpeas
- Soybeans
- Other oilseeds
- Wheat
How much will farmers get paid per acre?
As part of the ECAP program, farmers will receive payments based on the 2024 planted acres (for eligible crops) that they reported to the Farm Service Agency (FSA). If any crops were not able to be planted last year, farmers can still receive payments for 50 percent of those acres.
The payment rates for the crops (per acre) are as follows:
- Barley: $21.67
- Chickpeas: $31.45 for small or $24.02 for large
- Corn: $42.91
- Cotton (upland & extra-long staple): $84.74
- Lentils: $19.30
- Oats: $77.66
- Peanuts: $75.51
- Peas: $16.02
- Rice (long and medium): $76.94
- Sorghum: $42.52
- Soy beans: $29.76
- Wheat: $30.69
- Oil seeds: $11.36-$31.83 depending on type
Farmers can get an idea of how much they may receive by using the ECAP online calculator. One important note: There are caps on payment amounts based on annual income related to the agricultural industry for the 2020-2022 tax seasons.
If at least 75 percent of your income came from farming, ranching or forestry during those years, you can receive up to $250,000 from the program. Anyone whose related income falls below that percentage threshold can receive up to $125,000.
How to apply for USDA’s emergency relief program
Producers who reported growing an eligible commodity as of March 10, 2025, will receive a pre-filled application in the mail to verify and complete. But farmers can also apply online using a login.gov account or by requesting an application from their local FSA office. All applications must be received by August 15, 2025.
When will eligible farmers receive payment?
Though the application period lasts for months, farmers don’t have to wait nearly as long to get their payment. AGWeek.com reports that once the form has been properly filed, you can expect to receive your funds several days later via direct deposit.
