USDA to Make $8 Billion Available to Farmers Through Harvest Fuel Relief Program

(KNSI) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making $8 billion available in one-time payments to farmers this harvest season to offset market disruptions and higher input costs, including fuel.

The program is called Harvest Fuel Relief, and it works a lot like the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. Farmers are paid using the same formula, which covers part of the estimated losses for the 2026 crop year. The national loss average comes from planted acres reported to the Farm Service Agency, cost of production estimates from the Economic Research Service, and yield and price projections from the USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

The Farm Service Agency will run the program, and the money is authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. Payment rates for commodities, such as corn, soybeans, and wheat, are expected in November. There is no word yet on how payments will be determined for other eligible commodities.

A state Department of Agriculture crops profile ranks Minnesota first nationally for sugarbeets and oats, first for sweet corn and green peas for processing, and second for wild rice. Minnesota also ranks in the top ten for field corn, soybeans, and wheat.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says the payments are meant to give farmers more certainty during harvest.

Farmers do not need crop insurance to take part. USDA is still urging them to use the risk management tools in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act to protect against future price swings.

Specialty crop growers and fishermen can email data on their higher fuel costs to HarvestFuel@usda.gov. The USDA says it will weigh that information when setting its rates.

Eligible producers are encouraged to create a Login.gov account before applications start, though a start date hasn’t been announced. Those with an account linked to USDA will find pre-filled applications online.

This follows other farm aid this year. The Farmer Bridge Assistance program paid out $12 billion to more than 560,000 farmers. Two weeks ago, USDA said it issued nearly $14 billion in gross payments through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. The agency says that is about $8 billion more than farmers would have received without the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

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