USDA Announces $8 Billion in Harvest Relief for Farmers

USDA plans to make $8 billion available for one-time payments to farmers this fall through a new program aimed at easing market disruptions and higher input costs. The Harvest Fuel Relief program will provide proportional support based on modeled losses during the 2026 crop year. Calculations will use planted-acre data, production-cost estimates, and government forecasts for yields and prices.

“President Trump is the most pro-farmer president of my lifetime and he is continuing to put Farmers First every day,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “Today, I am proud to announce alongside President Trump more targeted relief is coming to our farmers through the Harvest Fuel Relief program. This $8 billion dollar investment will help bring certainty to our farmers during this harvest so they can continue to feed our nation."

USDA said payment rates for major commodities are expected in November. Details for other eligible commodities, including specialty crops and fisheries, will come later. Crop insurance will not be required.

Producers of other commodities can e-mail information about increased fuel costs to HarvestFuel's E-mail Address for consideration in setting payment rates. The FSA will administer the program under Commodity Credit Corporation authority. Farmers are encouraged to create a Login.gov account before online applications open; linked accounts will allow access to prefilled applications.

Industry Reaction

"This is the second round of emergency aid this year to address losses that were largely foreseeable," said National Farmers Union President Rob Larew. "While this assistance will be helpful for some farmers as they manage a costly harvest, trade disruptions and rising fuel costs tied to conflict abroad have put family farmers in a difficult position, and one-time payments can't provide the stability they need to plan for the future.

"We also have questions about how this program will serve specialty crop growers, who have been asked to submit their own cost data with no clarity yet on whether or how they'll be covered.

“The need for repeated emergency aid is a clear sign that the farm safety net is failing family farmers. We need to provide long-term certainty and investment in diversifying our fuel sources with renewable options, not a cycle of ad hoc relief. That’s why Congress must commit to passing a strong Farm Bill that gives family farmers the stable footing they need.”