On Tuesday, March 18, US Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the release of $10 bil. nationwide for an Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. It will be administered by the Farm Service Agency and is meant to help eligible agriculture producers “mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.” It is authorized by the American Relief Act of 2025, enacted in January at the very end of the last session of Congress.

Economic relief payments will be based on planted (and prevented planted) acreage for the 2024 crop year. FSA will send pre-filled applications to those who have submitted acreage reports; sign-up period opens March 19 and closes August 15, 2025. Among the eligible commodities are wheat, corn, sorghum, barley, soybeans and oats. For more details, visit FSA’s ECAP webpage or contact your local FSA office.

Eligible acreage, commodities, and ECAP payment rates (per acre):