USDA providing up to $10 billion to agricultural producers for 2024 impacts

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is issuing up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year.

Administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), officials said the ECAP will help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.

The announcement comes on National Agriculture Day, with US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins saying as producers are facing higher costs and market uncertainty that the Trump administration is ensuring they get the support they need without delay.

“With clear direction from Congress, USDA has prioritized streamlining the process and accelerating these payments ahead of schedule, ensuring farmers have the resources necessary to manage rising expenses and secure financing for next season,” said Rollins.

These economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year.

For the key row crops grown during the US spring season, the USDA has set corn at a rate of $42.91 with soybeans $29.76/acre payment.

Upland cotton and extra-long staple cotton is $84.74, wheat is at $30.69 and sorghum at $42.52.

Producers must submit ECAP applications to their local FSA county office by 15 August and only one application is required for all eligible commodities nationwide.

It can be submitted to FSA in-person, electronically by fax or by applying online at the FSA website.

To streamline delivery the FSA will begin sending pre-filled applications to producers who already submitted acreage reports for 2024 eligible ECAP commodities when the signup period opens on 19 March.

Producers who have not previously reported 2024 crop year acreage or filed a notice of loss for prevented planted crops must submit an acreage report by 15 August.