USDA Announces $12 Billion in One-Time Bridge Payments for American Farmers
President Donald Trump, joined by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bissett, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, Senator Deb Fischer, Senator John Hoeven, and Representative Austin Scott, has announced a major new effort to assist American farmers still struggling from years of market instability and rising production costs.
The administration confirmed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will make $12 billion available in one-time bridge payments. These payments are designed to help producers manage the impacts of temporary trade market disruptions and higher input expenses, which have continued to impair farm operations following four years of significant agricultural challenges.
Purpose of the Bridge Payments
These payments are intended to sustain farmers financially until the rollout of historic investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. A key provision of the act includes increases in reference prices, which are expected to rise 10% to 21% for major covered commodities such as:
- Soybeans
- Corn
- Wheat
- Peanuts
These enhanced reference prices are scheduled to reach eligible farmers by October 1, 2026.
Supporting Farmers Until the New Farm Bill
Officials emphasized that the purpose of the new funding is to provide a financial bridge to help farmers make it to the next farm bill cycle. As stated, “This is a bridge payment, a bridge amount—money that will be made to American farmers to try to get them to their new farm bill next year.”
The administration described the payments as necessary relief to maintain farm operations during a period of heightened costs and reduced global market access.
To submit questions, justification for USDA farmer bridge aid, or to request a meeting on farmer bridge aid, producers can reach out to farmerbridge@usda.gov.
Audio Reporting by Tyron Spearman for Southeast AgNet.