Applications are now open through August 15, 2025, for farmers interested in participating in the $10-billion Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), which is being administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
The aid comes available at a crucial time as farmers are experiencing low commodity prices, high input costs and a variety of trade uncertainties going into the 2025 production season.
The American Relief Act of 2025, which was passed by Congress late last year, authorized the $10 billion for ECAP payments to help offset losses growers incurred during the 2024 crop year.
Payments will be made to farmers on a flat per-acre rate on 100% of planted acres, or 50% of those prevented from planting, Paul Neiffer, Farm CPA, told AgriTalk Host Chip Flory earlier this week.
“Eligible farmers are those planting commodity crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, legumes, dry peas, oilseeds,” Neiffer said.
Acres planted for harvest, grazing, haying, silage or other similar purposes in the 2024 crop year also qualify. In all, a total of 22 different crops are included in the program (see list below).
Neiffer addresses many of the questions farmers are asking him about ECAP in his discussion with Flory on AgriTalk. Listen here:
Specific Requirements For Eligibility
To be eligible, farmers must meet the following requirements, according to Betty Resnick, American Farm Bureau Federation economist:
- Be actively engaged in farming.
- Have an interest in input expenses for a covered commodity.
- Have reported acreage of eligible commodities to FSA for the 2024 crop year planted and prevent plant acres to FSA on an FSA-578, Report of Acreage form.
- Have reported acres that were prevented from being planted to FSA for the 2024 crop year on an CCC-576 Notice of Loss form (if applicable).
Producers who have not previously reported 2024 crop year acreage or filed a notice of loss for prevent plant crops, must submit an acreage report by the August 15, 2025 deadline.
Notably, the initial round of payments will only amount to 85% of the per-acre payment to ensure that enough funding is available for all farmers who sign up for the program, Neiffer told Flory.
After the ECAP application period closes on August 15, a second payment may be issued with the remaining funds up to the additional 15% of the per-acre payments. Farmers can estimate their total expected payments using an online calculator available at fsa.usda.gov/ecap.
Producers can also contact their local FSA offices with additional questions.
Eligible Crops And Rates
Commodities included in the program are:
- Wheat: $30.69
- Corn: $42.91
- Sorghum – $42.52
- Barley – $21.67
- Oats – $77.66
- Upland cotton & Extra-long staple cotton – $84.74
- Long & medium grain rice – $76.94
- Peanuts – $75.51
- Soybeans – $29.76
- Dry peas – $16.02
- Lentils – $19.30
- Small Chickpeas – $31.45
- Large Chickpeas – $24.02
Eligible Oilseeds:
- Canola – $31.83
- Crambe – $19.08
- Flax – $20.97
- Mustard – $11.36
- Rapeseed – $23.63
- Safflower – $26.32
- Sesame – $16.83
- Sunflower – $27.23
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