On Feb. 13, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. This program provides assistance for specialty crops not covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance program.
ASCF payments are based on reported 2025 planted acres. Acreage that is reported as a cover crop, prevented planted, or with an intended use of grazing, left standing, green manure, silage, forage, volunteer, or experimental will not be used to determine ASCF program payments.
The payment limit is $250,000 per producer. The average adjusted gross income (AGI) limitation relating to limits on payments for persons or legal entities, excluding joint ventures and general partnerships, with certain levels of AGI apply. Specifically, a person or legal entity with an AGI (as defined in 7 CFR Part 1400) that exceeds $900,000 is not eligible to receive ASCF payments.
Payments will be issued as applications are approved. FSA used national average revenue per crop as a metric for developing the ASCF program payment categories and payment rates listed below. There will not be a payment factor.
Applications are due August 7, 2026. Apply online here.
To find your local service center and USDA Farm Service Agency office: farmers.gov/service-locator.