Policy Pulse:
$12B Farmer Bridge Payments (USDA)
USDA confirmed the $12B Farmer Bridge Payments and published commodity per‑acre payment rates on Dec 31, 2025, with payments starting by Feb 28, 2026. Keep 2025 acreage and production records tidy; confirm details with your FSA office.
Dashboards to monitor:
ECAP Dashboard
SDRP Dashboard
Check This Out:
New Web-App for Farmers tracking inputs:
FencePost is a new digital input-tracking app for farmers. Create an anonymous account and enter in all of your inputs for planting through harvest. Then share it to post boards and compare with other anonymous farmers across the country or in your region! This app is in development and we are looking for farmers to test its features for free.
Federal Programs
| Program | What it pays for | Deadline | Who can apply | First action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) — Dashboard | Multi-year disaster relief for eligible crop/tree losses (incl. quality). | Open; current cycle runs to Apr 30, 2026 | Producers with 2023–2024 eligible losses | Call your FSA office and confirm Stage 1/2 status; pull docs now. |
| Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) — Dashboard | One-time payments for 2024 eligible commodities; dashboard shows status and amounts. | Active payments; application status by FSA | Producers identified by FSA for ECAP | Check your crop on the dashboard, then call FSA to confirm records and payment timeline. |
| FSA Direct Farm Ownership & Operating Loans | Land purchases, equipment, working capital; microloans available. | Rolling | Family farmers and ranchers | Ask your county FSA office which loan fits and request the checklist before you gather docs. |
| Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) | On-farm storage: grain bins, cold storage, hay storage, wash/pack upgrades. | Rolling | Producers of eligible commodities | Price a bin or cold room and request an FSFL pre-application checklist from FSA. |
State Programs
| Program | What it pays for | Deadline | Who can apply | First action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland – MARBIDCO Next Generation Farmland Acquisition (Next Gen) | Down-payment help to buy farmland (up to 51% of land FMV) with conservation easement follow-on. | Rolling (funding dependent) | MD beginning farmers | Call MARBIDCO to confirm current funding and start a property eligibility review. |
| Virginia – AFID Infrastructure Grants | Reimbursable grants for food hubs, markets, commercial kitchens, and value-added facilities. | Rolling (program cycles; locality sponsorship required) | VA localities + eligible agribusiness projects | Talk to your county/city econ-dev about sponsoring an AFID Infrastructure application. |
| Oregon – Beginning & Expanding Farmer Loan Program (Aggie Bonds) | Tax-exempt bonds via lenders to reduce interest for beginning farmers. | Rolling (lender-driven) | OR beginning farmers | Ask your bank if it originates Aggie Bonds; review eligibility (net-worth & experience caps). |
| Colorado – Agricultural Future Loan Program (CAFL) | Inclusive financing for beginning producers and value-added ag businesses. | Rolling (subject to partner-lender capacity) | CO producers & ag-value-add businesses | Use the state portal to match with a participating lender and prep financials. |
| Utah – Rural Rehabilitation & Disaster Relief Loans (UDAF) | Low-interest loans for buy/begin/improve farm operations; separate disaster-relief loans available. | Rolling (see program pages) | UT producers lacking conventional financing | Call UDAF loan staff to pre-qualify and get the current rate & collateral checklist. |
| Maine – Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund (AMLF) | Direct loans (up to $250k) for equipment/facility upgrades that improve marketing/production. | Rolling (staff review) | ME farms & ag businesses | Read AMLF guidance and request a pre-application consult with DACF/FAME. |
| Wyoming – State Farm Loan Program | State loans for land, livestock, equipment, and farm improvements. | Rolling (board approval) | WY producers | Confirm eligibility and prepare a project budget before contacting the Office of State Lands. |
| South Dakota – Beginning Farmer Bond Program | Tax-exempt bonds issued via lenders to lower rates on land/equipment purchases. | Rolling (lender-driven) | SD beginning farmers | Ask your lender to coordinate with GOED on a bond-financed purchase. |
| North Carolina – AgWRAP Cost-Share (Soil & Water) | Cost-share for ag water storage/supply/efficiency projects (county SWCD sign-up). | FY26 sign-ups managed locally (many open now) | NC producers via local SWCDs | Call your county SWCD about FY26 signup and bring a project sketch and cost estimate. |
What to do this week
• Call your FSA office: confirm SDRP Stage 1/2 status and ask about ECAP payment timing for your crops.
• Pick one state financing option above and phone a human. Ask about 2026 funding capacity and underwriting.
• If storage is tight before spring, price FSFL‑eligible projects and request the checklist.
• Start a 1‑page cash‑flow for any loan ask (12 months, realistic prices).
• Bookmark the AFTPP NOFO if you’re in a commodity group (export promotion funding).
· Beginning farmers in MD/VT/CO: line up eligibility docs and recent financials; confirm lender participation.
Watch‑list (prep now)
America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP) — NOFO — export‑promotion cost‑share for eligible trade groups; FY26 apps open now (due Feb 22, 2026).
Glossary
Bridge payments: Temporary cash to “bridge” farmers through market shocks while longer‑term fixes roll out.
Aggie Bonds: Tax‑exempt bonds that let lenders offer reduced rates to beginning farmers via participating banks.
Cost‑share: You pay part of a project; the program reimburses a percentage when the work is done and verified.
Sources (primary/canonical)
Sources (canonical) USDA Press Release — $12B Farmer Bridge Payments (Dec 8, 2025) USDA Press Release — FBA Payment Rates (Dec 31, 2025) FSA — ECAP Dashboard FSA — SDRP Dashboard FSA — MASC Program Page FSA — Farm Loan Programs FSA — Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) MD — MARBIDCO Next Gen Farmland Acquisition VA — AFID Infrastructure Grants OR — Aggie Bonds CO — Colorado Agricultural Future Loan UT — Agricultural Loan Programs ME — Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund (AMLF) WY — State Farm Loans SD — Beginning Farmer Bond Program NC — AgWRAP FAS — AFTPP Application Announcement
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