By Julie Tomascik
Editor

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program to provide one-time payments to farmers facing rising fuel costs and other financial challenges.

The assistance will be administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) using funds authorized through the Commodity Credit Corporation.

Similar to the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, payments will be calculated using a uniform formula designed to cover a portion of estimated losses for the 2026 crop year.

USDA will determine payment rates based on planted acreage reported to FSA, Economic Research Service production cost estimates and projected yields and prices from the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

Commodity-specific payment rates for Title I commodities are expected to be announced in November. Payment calculations for other eligible commodities will be released at a later date.

Crop insurance participation will not be required to receive assistance.

USDA encouraged eligible farmers to establish a Login.gov account linked to USDA ahead of the application period. Pre-filled applications will be available online for farmers with linked accounts.

Specialty crop growers, fishermen and other producers of non-Title I commodities are encouraged to submit information about increased fuel costs to [email protected] for consideration as USDA determines payment rates.

TFB highlights agriculture’s economic crisis
The assistance, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) President Russell Boening said, comes at a critical time for farmers and ranchers facing rising production costs and mounting financial pressure.

“The $8 billion in harvest fuel relief is welcome and much-needed support,” Boening said. “But the agricultural economy remains under tremendous strain, and Congress must follow through on the additional economic assistance it has promised.”

TFB has advocated for strengthening the farm economy through numerous meetings with administration officials in Washington, D.C., and Texas.

Since August, the organization has held 50 congressional recess meetings and farm tours across nearly every Texas congressional district to highlight the financial challenges facing agriculture.

Boening also urged Congress to complete work on the farm bill.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed its version of the legislation, but the Senate has yet to advance the Agricultural Act of 2026.

“America’s farmers and ranchers cannot afford to wait,” Boening said.

Additional agricultural assistance
The Harvest Fuel Relief Program follows other federal efforts to provide economic assistance to farmers struggling with high input costs and low commodity prices.

Earlier this year, USDA distributed $12 billion in one-time payments through the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program to more than 560,000 farmers nationwide.

The agency also recently issued over $13 billion in gross payments through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs.

The new assistance follows an Oct. 5 executive order from Trump temporarily easing restrictions on dyed diesel use to help address record-high fuel costs.

USDA has not yet announced when Harvest Fuel Relief Program payments will be distributed.

Additional program details and application information will be available through USDA.