The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Feb. 13 it is providing $1 billion in funding for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program. The federal aid is for specialty crops and sugar. Those commodities were not covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance program.
Citrus is one of numerous ASCF-eligible specialty crops. See the full list of eligible crops in the USDA’s announcement about the program here.
The one-time bridge payments will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports, USDA stated. Specialty crop producers have until March 13 to report 2025 acres to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
“Today we are building on our Farmer Bridge Assistance program with the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “If our specialty crop producers are not economically able to continue their operations, American families will see a decrease in the food they rely on, wholesome and nutritious fruits and vegetables. Today’s specialty crop announcement builds on our efforts to improve markets for real food into American schools, institutions and family dinner tables.”
ASCF is authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and will be administered by FSA.
ASCF payments are based on reported 2025 planted acres. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5 p.m. EDT on March 13. Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by the end of March. Crop insurance linkage will not be required for the ASCF Program. However, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act risk management tools to best protect against price risk and volatility in the future.
More information on ASCF is available here, or producers can contact their local FSA county office.
Source: USDA