Daily Commodity Wire Subscribe free

Farm aid tracker

USDA payments farmers are waiting on: what's been announced, who qualifies, when the money comes, and what to do now. We check the Federal Register, where USDA publishes program rules and notices, every couple of hours and post anything new here.

What to do now

  1. Report your 2026 acres to your FSA county office if you haven't. Harvest Fuel Relief uses FSA planted acres.
  2. Set up a Login.gov account and link it to USDA (farmers.gov sign-in). USDA says linked accounts get a pre-filled application.
  3. ARC/PLC: the 2026 crop sign-up ends Dec 11, 2026. The 2027 sign-up runs Nov 2, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027. ARC/PLC tracker

With fuel relief, USDA payments to farmers in 2026 could reach about $55 billion, a record (the old record was $45.6 billion in 2020).

Harvest Fuel Relief (HFR)

$8 billion
Where it stands
Announced Oct 19, 2026. Payment rates for corn, soybeans, wheat and other program crops are due in November; sign-up dates aren't set yet.
Who
Producers of 2026 crops. Crop insurance is not required. Rates for other crops (specialty crops, others) will come later.
How it pays
A one-time payment covering part of modeled 2026 losses from higher fuel and input costs. USDA uses one formula built from FSA planted acres, USDA ERS cost of production, and WASDE yields and prices.
When
Not before the election; late November or December at the earliest.
To do
Make sure your 2026 acres are reported to your FSA office, and set up a Login.gov account linked to USDA now. Producers with a linked account get a pre-filled online application.

USDA source

ARC and PLC payments (2025 crop)

about $13.8 billion
Where it stands
Going out in October 2026 for farms enrolled for the 2025 crop.
Who
Farms with base acres enrolled in ARC or PLC for 2025.
How it pays
PLC pays when the season-average price is below the reference price; ARC pays when county revenue falls below its guarantee.
When
October 2026.
To do
2026 crop sign-up is open until Dec 11, 2026; 2027 sign-up runs Nov 2, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027.

More

Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA)

$12 billion
Where it stands
Paid in spring 2026.
Who
Row-crop farmers hurt by trade disruptions.
How it pays
Per-acre payments by crop.
When
Paid.
To do
If you think you were missed, call your FSA county office.

USDA source

New from USDA (Federal Register)

Nothing new on payments, rates or sign-ups in the last 60 days. When USDA posts Harvest Fuel Relief rates or a sign-up date, it shows here, in that day's report and (for Text Alerts customers who follow grains) by text.

Last checked Oct 26, 1:00 PM CT.

Sources: USDA press release, Oct 19, 2026; Federal Register (USDA FSA and CCC rules and notices), USDA FSA news; Farm Policy News (University of Illinois) for the 2026 payment total. This page explains public programs; it isn't legal or financial advice. Your FSA county office has the final word on your farm.