Four farm assistance programs have deadlines in August 2026:
- Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF)
- Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP)
- Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program
- New base acre allocations for Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC)
Crop acreage reports must be filed with the USDA Farm Service Agency to be eligible for many USDA programs. July 15th is the crop acreage reporting deadline for most spring- and summer-seeded crops.
Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) – August 7th Deadline
The Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program provides one-time bridge payments for specialty crops not covered by the Farm Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. Payments are based on reported 2025 planted acres, and payment rates depend on the specific crops grown.
Specialty crop payments range from $65 per acre to $650 per acre. Beans and peas that were not eligible for the FBA program can receive $25 per acre.
The payment limit is $250,000 per producer. Producers with adjusted gross income exceeding $900,000 are not eligible. Crops grown in controlled environments are not eligible, except for mushrooms.
Specialty crop growers can apply at their local FSA office or apply online with a Login.gov account. August 7th is the application deadline for the ASCF program.
Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) – August 12th Deadline
The Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) provides disaster relief payments to crop producers who experienced a loss of yield, quality, or revenue because of a hurricane or other qualifying disaster event in 2023 and 2024. Stage 1 of the program is available for producers with indemnified losses. Stage 2 is available for producers with non-indemnified, uncovered, and quality losses.
Producers receiving SDRP payments are required to purchase federal crop insurance or NAP coverage for the next two available crop years.
Producers must have several forms on file with the FSA and can apply for the SDRP at their local FSA office. August 12th is the application deadline for the SDRP.
Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program – August 24th Deadline
The USDA allocated more than $600 million in Disaster Block Grant funds to assist Florida producers impacted by hurricanes in 2023 and 2024. Assistance to eligible producers may compensate for infrastructure damage, market losses, as well as citrus- and timber-specific losses.
More information on program eligibility requirements can be found on the FDACS Eligible Producer and Program Requirements webpage.
Producers can register and apply online through the FDACS Florida Block Grant website. Applications for the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program must be fully submitted prior to August 25th to be considered.
New Base Acres for the ARC and PLC Programs – August 31st Deadline
The USDA is adding 30 million new base acres nationwide. New base acres are allocated according to landowners’ reported crop acreage between 2019 and 2023 for 22 covered commodities including peanuts, corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, oats, barley, grain sorghum, dry peas, canola, and others.
Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs provide payments to enrolled producers with base acres when farm revenue or commodity prices fall below set levels. Producers must have an interest in a covered commodity grown on a farm with base acres to be eligible for the ARC and PLC programs.
Landowners can view their Base Allocation Summary online or by visiting their local FSA office. USDA recommends that landowners review their Base Allocation Summary and contact their local FSA office if:
- “Acreage history data is incorrect or missing
- There are “subsequent acres” listed and they would like to choose the subsequent acreage for base allocation
- To opt out of receiving any additional base acres.”
Landowners have until August 31, 2026, to take any of the actions listed above or file an appeal. If no actions are taken, new base acres will automatically be allocated to farms using the Base Allocation Summaries.
The enrollment period for 2026 ARC and PLC programs will be announced later this year after the new base acre allocation process is completed.
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