The American Farm Bureau Federation says billions in federal aid are reaching farmers through the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, but warns financial pressures in agriculture are far from over.
According to a new Market Intel analysis from AFBF economists, nearly $9.6 billion in payments have already been distributed to producers, with corn and soybean acres receiving the largest share of assistance.
The program, announced by U.S. Department of Agriculture in late 2025, was designed to help offset losses during what Farm Bureau describes as a historic downturn in the farm economy. Of the $12 billion total, about $11 billion was directed to row crop producers, with the remainder set aside for specialty crop and sugar growers.
So far, corn accounts for the largest portion of payments — about 42 percent, or $3.45 billion — followed by soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice.
Despite that support, AFBF says many farmers are still operating in the red.
“Record-low commodity prices and persistently high input costs pushed returns into negative territory across the country,” the report notes, adding that all major row crops are still expected to see negative returns even after federal assistance.
Farm Bureau also highlighted uneven distribution across agriculture. Because specialty crops are not covered under the main FBA program, many producers, particularly in regions like the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, have received far less support. While a separate program for specialty crops is in development, details and payments are still pending.
Overall, the group says the payments are helping farmers “bridge” the current downturn, but additional support will likely be needed as costs for inputs like fertilizer and fuel continue to rise.
Still, AFBF economists say the current assistance may not be enough to offset ongoing losses.
“We are still seeing certain commodities that are facing insane per-acre losses,” said Cameron Castillo, an associate economist with AFBF. “Rice alone, despite payments from FBA and ECAP, they’ll still see an average of about $212 per acre in losses. Additional economic aid is very much needed.”