USDA has released details of the $1 Billion allocated to specialty crops under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. The program is being referred to as Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers.
Full details (including commodities covered are below, but the most important note is that the deadline to ensure your 2025 crop acreage reports are accurate is March 13th.
Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing $1 billion through a one-time bridge payment for specialty crops, sugar, and commodities not covered through the previously announced Farm Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. These bridge payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. ASCF payments are based on reported 2025 planted acres.
Important Dates
March 13, 2026 (by 5 p.m. ET) – deadline to ensure 2025 crop acreage reports are factual and accurate for eligible ASCF crops.
End of March - commodity-specific payment rates will be released.
Eligible Commodities
ASCF-eligible specialty crops include: (A) Almond, Apple, Apricot, Aronia berry, Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado (B) Banana, Bean (Snap or green; Lima; Dry edible), Beet (Table), Blackberry, Blueberry, Breadfruit, Broccoli (including Broccoli Raab), Brussels Sprouts (C) Cabbage (including Chinese), Cacao, Carrot, Cashew, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Cherimoya, Cherry, Chestnut (for Nuts), Chive, Citrus, Coconut, Coffee, Collards (including Kale), Cranberry, Cucumber, Currant (D) Date, Dry Edible Beans and Peas* (E) Edamame, Eggplant, Endive (F) Feijou, Fig, Filbert (Hazelnut) (G) Garlic, Gooseberry, Grape (including Raisin), Guava (H) Horseradish (K) Kiwi, Kohlrabi (L) Leek, Lettuce, Litchi (M) Macadamia, Mango, Melon (All Types), Mushroom (Cultivated), Mustard and Other Greens (N) Nectarine (O) Okra, Olive, Onion, Opuntia (P) Papaya, Parsley, Parsnip, Passion Fruit, Pea (Garden; English or Edible Pod; Dry edible), Peach, Pear, Pecan, Pepper, Persimmon, Pineapple, Pistachio, Plum (including Prune), Pomegranate, Potato, Pumpkin (Q) Quince (R) Radish (All Types), Raspberry, Rhubarb, Rutabaga (S) Salsify, Spinach, Squash (Summer and Winter), Strawberry, Suriname Cherry, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard (T) Taro, Tomato (including Tomatillo), Turnip (W) Walnut, Watermelon
*Dry edible beans and peas covered by FBA will not be eligible for ASCF.
Application Deadline: March 13, 2026
More details on the program can be found here.
