USDA’s bridge program for row crop producers has delivered substantial aid as farm finances deteriorate. The department set aside $11 billion for row crops within the broader bridge package, and FSA reports that $9.6 billion disbursed has gone to approved applications so far, with roughly 500,000 applications processed. The payments are intended to be a one-time economic bridge while permanent safety-net changes are phased in later in 2026.
FBA payments are calculated on a flat, per-acre basis for eligible 2025 planted acres, with per-acre rates driven by FSA acreage data, ERS cost-of-production estimates, WASDE yield and price projections, and USDA economic modeling. Per-acre rates are highest where 2025 losses were largest — notably cotton and rice — but widespread low commodity prices and high input costs pushed returns negative across much of the country. Because FBA covers only a share of losses, many producers remain under financial strain despite receiving payments.
Payment totals are concentrated in a handful of crops, led by corn and soybeans. Corn accounts for the single largest share — corn 42% of payments — with about $3.45 billion paid to corn acres; soybeans follow at roughly $2.27 billion. Wheat payments total about $1.34 billion, cotton $874 million, rice $307 million, and the program’s other eligible row crops combined about $652 million; totals will rise as remaining applications are reviewed and approved.
State and specialty distribution
Distribution has favored major row-crop states in the Midwest and South; Iowa leads by total dollars at approximately $843 million, with Texas and Illinois close behind at about $784 million and $765 million, respectively. Specialty crops are not eligible under the row-crop FBA, so regions concentrated in fruits, vegetables and tree crops have received far less from this program. USDA set aside the remaining portion of the bridge package for specialty crop and sugar growers, and sugar producers were separately allocated $150 million with distribution details still being finalized.
The FBA is intended to bridge producers to the farm safety-net enhancements enacted earlier this year, which raise reference prices, expand crop insurance premium support and increase marketing-assistance loan rates later in 2026. Significant gaps remain: specialty crop and sugar growers continue to face large uncovered losses and other sectors such as alfalfa, aquaculture and timber were not included in the bridge program. All nine principal row crops are forecast to have negative returns even after accounting for federal assistance.
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