Feb 16, 2026USDA announces $1B aid package for vegetable growers
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced USDA will provide $1 billion in grower relief payments through the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program to help offset market disruptions, rising input and labor costs and export competition.
The program, administered by the Farm Service Agency, covers a wide range of specialty crops not included in the Farmer Bridge Assistance program.
USDA says payment amounts will be based on reported 2025 planted acres, and producers must report their acreage by 5 p.m. ET on March 13, 2026. Crop insurance is not required to participate.
According to the press release, eligible specialty crops include:
- Almonds
- Apples
- Apricots
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Beans (snap/green, lima, dry edible)
- Beets (table)
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage (incl. Chinese)
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery/celeriac
- Cherries
- Citrus
- Coffee
- Collards/kale
- Cranberries
- Cucumbers
- Dates
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Endive
- Figs
- Garlic
- Grapes (incl. raisins)
- Greens (mustard/other)
- Hazelnuts (filberts)
- Horseradish
- Kiwi
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Melons (all types)
- Mushrooms
- Nectarines
- Okra
- Olives
- Onions
- Papaya
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Peas (garden/English/edible pod; dry edible)
- Peaches
- Pears
- Pecans
- Peppers
- Persimmons
- Pineapple
- Pistachios
- Plums/prunes
- Pomegranate
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Radishes
- Raspberries
- Rhubarb
- Rutabaga
- Spinach
- Squash (summer & winter)
- Strawberries
- Sweet corn
- Sweet potatoes
- Swiss chard
- Taro
- Tomatoes/tomatillos
- Turnips
- Walnuts
- Watermelon
Learn more or report acres at your local FSA office or online at fsa.usda.gov.
Specialty crop leaders react to bridge payment news, request $5 billion in dedicated grower aid
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued a statement calling for significantly more in grower relief payments, according to a press release from the group. The SCFBA is co-chaired by Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association; Mike Joyner, President of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers; and Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council.
“The hard truth is that even with today’s announcement more help is needed, which is why we continue to urge Congress to provide not less than $5 billion in dedicated aid for the specialty crop sector,” SCFBA said in the release. “This support is critical to the continued sustainability of American agriculture and the communities specialty crop producers serve.”
