The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the Harvest Fuel Relief Program, an $8 billion initiative that will provide one-time payments to eligible farmers and ranchers to help offset increased production expenses during the 2026 crop year.
How the Program Will Work
Harvest Fuel Relief payments will be calculated using a uniform formula to cover a portion of modeled losses during the 2026 crop year. Payment calculations will be based on:
- FSA-reported planted acreage
- USDA Economic Research Service cost-of-production estimates
- USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates yields and prices
Commodity-specific payment rates for Title I commodities will be released in November. USDA will release payment methodologies for other eligible commodities at a later date.
Producers of non-Title I commodities, including specialty crop growers and fishermen, are encouraged to submit data related to increased fuel costs to [email protected] as USDA develops payment rates for those sectors.
Preparing to Apply
USDA has not yet announced an enrollment period. Eligible producers are encouraged to create a Login.gov account and link it to their USDA records in advance to access pre-filled online applications when enrollment opens.
Stay Informed
Florida Farm Bureau encourages farmers and ranchers to monitor USDA announcements regarding eligibility requirements, payment rates and enrollment procedures. It will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
