MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – After a financially challenging year marked by high input costs and low commodity prices, Alabama farmers will soon have access to two new federal assistance programs designed to offset rising operational expenses.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the programs in 2026 to help row crop and specialty crop producers navigate ongoing economic pressures affecting the agricultural sector.
The Farmer Bridge Assistance Program allocated $11 billion in federal funding for row crop producers struggling with sustained financial difficulties.
“The Farmer Bridge Assistance Program is for the row crop producers, and that is a bridge to get them to where typical safety net programs that they rely on will come into effect later this year,” said Adam Rabinowitz, associate professor and extension specialist at Auburn University.
Rabinowitz cited multiple factors contributing to farmer hardship, including difficulties with high input costs, low commodity prices and trade disruption.
Payment amounts under the program will be calculated based on farmers’ 2025 reported planted acres. Row crop farmers have until April 17 to apply for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program.
A second program allocates $1 billion specifically for specialty crop farmers, including producers of fruits, vegetables and tree nuts.
“Specialty crop producers, which I mean in terms of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, those producers don’t usually receive these types of safety net programs,” Rabinowitz said.
Because specialty crop farmers typically don’t report acreage through standard agricultural programs, they have until March 13 to ensure their crop acreage reports are factual and accurate.
Rabinowitz emphasized the importance of these programs for Alabama’s diverse agricultural economy.
“We are a strong state in terms of agriculture, but the diversity in agriculture and the diversity of our farmers with respect to what they plant and grow is really vital to their survival,” he said. “In particular, there have been a lot of challenges on the row crop side where, just, costs have been too high for a sustained period of time and prices have been too low.”
The assistance programs aim to provide immediate relief while farmers await traditional safety net programs expected to take effect later in 2026.
You can apply for these programs at the FSA website or your local FSA office.
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