The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced the launch of the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), providing up to $10 billion in direct payments to eligible agricultural producers for the 2024 crop year.
This one-time economic assistance is aimed at helping farmers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and declining commodity prices.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for ECAP, producers must:
- Be actively engaged in farming.
- Have an interest in input expenses for a covered commodity.
- Have reported 2024 crop year acreage to FSA by August 15, 2025, using Form FSA-578 (Report of Acreage).
- Have reported prevented planting acreage to FSA by August 15, 2025, using Form FSA-576 (Notice of Loss), if applicable.
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ECAP payments will be made on a per-acre basis for eligible commodities. Specific payment rates are available through the USDA’s resources. Double cropping situations may qualify for payments on both crops.
Key Dates:
- Applications open: March 19, 2025
- Application deadline: August 15, 2025
How to Apply:
- Pre-filled applications will be mailed to eligible producers.
- Producers can also apply online at login.gov, or through their local FSA county office.
- Applications can be submitted in person, electronically, or by fax.
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Producers must have specific forms on file with the FSA, including:
- Form AD-2047 (Customer Data Worksheet)
- Form CCC-901 (Member Information for Legal Entities, if applicable)
- Form CCC-902 (Farm Operating Plan)
- Form CCC-943 (75 percent of Average Gross Income from Farming, Ranching, or Forestry Certification)
- Form AD-1026 (Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification)
- Form SF-3881 (Direct Deposit)
Payment Details:
- Payments are based on acreage, not production.
- Prevented planting acres are limited to 50% of reported acres.
- Initial payments will be factored by 85% to ensure funding availability.
- Payment limitations: $125,000 for those with less than 75% farm income, $250,000 for those with 75% or more.
- An online calculator is available to estimate payments.
Producers are advised to contact their local FSA county office for more information and assistance.
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