Dear Friends,

After a difficult year for Kentucky farmers, I am glad to see the Trump Administration take an important step to help ease the strain of market disruptions. I’m happy to report that earlier this month, President Trump and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the creation of the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, dedicating $11 billion in tariff revenue to provide one-time payments to support agricultural producers impacted by recent trade market disruptions and continued increased production costs due to the Biden Administration's policies.

I am glad to see the Trump Administration take this important step to help support our farmers. Eligible row crop farmers should ensure that their 2025 acreage reporting is accurate and factual with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) by 5pm on December 19, 2025.

Here is some additional important information about this new program.

• The $11 billion awarded to this program is eligible for farmers who grow Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower.
• USDA also announced $1 billion in farmers’ bridge payments for specialty crops that will be outlined at a future date.
• USDA will use a national loss average to calculate payments that is based on Farm Service Agency (FSA) reported planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production estimates, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates yields and prices, and economic modeling.
• Farmers who qualify for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program can expect payments to be released by February 28, 2026. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5pm ET on December 19, 2025.

Questions about this program can be directed to my office, your local Farm Service Agency representative, or via email to farmerbridge@usda.gov. 

Thank you to all our farmers who work tirelessly every day of the year to keep our nation fed.