Although the USDA announced the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program in December of last year, it needed more time to create the program for specialty crops. Last week, USDA announced that the $1 billion devoted to specialty crops and commodities not covered by the FBA would be paid through the new Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program. These farmers will receive one-time bridge payments authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. ASCF payments will be based on reported 2025 planted acres.
The USDA provided two key dates in the announcement:
- March 13, 2026 (by 5 p.m. ET) – growers must ensure 2025 crop acreage reports are factual and accurate for eligible ASCF crops
- End of March – USDA will release commodity-specific payment rates
ASCF-eligible specialty crops include the following:
- Almond, Apple, Apricot, Aronia berry, Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado
- Banana, Bean (Snap or green; Lima; Dry edible), Beet (Table), Blackberry, Blueberry, Breadfruit, Broccoli (including Broccoli Raab), Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage (including Chinese), Cacao, Carrot, Cashew, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Cherimoya, Cherry, Chestnut (for Nuts), Chive, Citrus, Coconut, Coffee, Collards (including Kale), Cranberry, Cucumber, Currant
- Date, Dry Edible Beans and Peas*
- Edamame, Eggplant, Endive
- Feijou, Fig, Filbert (Hazelnut)
- Garlic, Gooseberry, Grape (including Raisin), Guava
- Horseradish
- Kiwi, Kohlrabi
- Leek, Lettuce, Litchi
- Macadamia, Mango, Melon (All Types), Mushroom (Cultivated), Mustard and Other Greens
- Nectarine
- Okra, Olive, Onion, Opuntia
- 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
- Quince
- Radish (All Types), Raspberry, Rhubarb, Rutabaga
- Salsify, Spinach, Squash (Summer and Winter), Strawberry, Suriname Cherry, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard
- Taro, Tomato (including Tomatillo), Turnip
- Walnut, Watermelon
The announcement notes that dry edible beans and peas covered by FBA will not be eligible for ASCF. Crop insurance is not required to receive payments under the ASCF. The USDA has not provided the date by which the payments will be made. We will stay tuned for further details.
In the meantime, the $11 billion in FBA payments for traditional commodities are scheduled to reach farmers by the end of this month.