Specialty crop farmers have faced a difficult stretch. Rising input costs, supply chain disruptions, and shifting market conditions have squeezed margins on everything from apples and almonds to lettuce and blueberries. The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, a new initiative authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is designed to provide direct financial relief to specialty crop producers while longer-term agricultural policy solutions take shape.

USDA has tasked the Farm Service Agency with administering FBA, and FSA county offices are now accepting applications. Here's what specialty crop growers need to know.

What Is the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program?

The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) or Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program provides direct payments to eligible specialty crop producers based on their planted acres and commodity type. The program is modeled on prior USDA assistance programs and is designed as a bridge to provide financial stability while producers navigate elevated input costs and market uncertainty.

Bridge payments are not loans and do not need to be repaid. They are direct FSA payments calculated based on your eligible commodity, planted acres, and applicable payment rates. FBA payments are subject to adjusted gross income (AGI) limits and individual payment limits set by FSA, similar to other commodity support programs.

Which Crops Are Eligible for Bridge Payments?

The Farmer Bridge Assistance program covers a wide range of specialty crops. Fruits eligible for FBA bridge payments include apples, strawberries, grapes, cherries, blueberries, and watermelons. Tree nuts covered include almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, and pecans. Vegetables and field crops include tomatoes, lettuce, corn, peas, beans, soybeans, rice, wheat, mustard, chickpeas, turnips, and taro. Specialty items like mushrooms are also covered.

Eligibility also requires that you have filed a crop acreage report with FSA for the relevant crop and production year. Producers who haven't filed acreage reports are not eligible for FBA payments.

How FBA Payment Rates Are Calculated

FBA payment rates are set by USDA on a per-acre basis, varying by commodity to reflect differences in production costs and market conditions. Your FBA payment is calculated by multiplying your eligible acres (as documented in your crop acreage report) by the applicable payment rate for your commodity, subject to payment limits and adjusted gross income (AGI) restrictions. Your FSA county office can confirm current payment limits and AGI thresholds.

How to Apply Through FSA

Applying for FBA bridge payments requires an active FSA account and current farm records. Producers with existing FSA accounts can apply online through farmers.gov. You'll need a login.gov account to access farmers.gov. If you don't have one, create it at login.gov before starting your FBA application.

When applying, you'll confirm your eligible specialty crops, the acres planted as documented in your crop acreage report, and your adjusted gross income documentation if required. FSA staff are available at local offices to assist with the application process.

What This Means for Specialty Crop Producers Going Forward

The Farmer Bridge Assistance program or Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program is a meaningful short-term relief measure, but it's also a signal of evolving USDA priorities around specialty crops, a sector that has historically received less direct support compared to commodity crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton.

FarmRaise's FSA Educational Hub was built precisely to bridge this awareness gap. Developed in partnership with the Farm Service Agency, the Hub covers FSA programs relevant to all producers, including how to set up your farmers.gov account, how to access disaster assistance, and how to navigate new programs like FBA. Visit farmraise.com to access the Hub and make sure your operation is fully enrolled in the programs available to you.