White House seeks $11 billion in aid for specialty crop, Florida growers
Learn what the proposal includes and what it could mean for fruit and vegetable growers.
The White House is asking Congress to approve $11.1 billion in supplemental agricultural assistance, including $10 billion in temporary economic aid for row and specialty crop producers who planted crops in 2026, a proposal that could provide additional financial relief to fruit and vegetable growers facing continued economic pressure.
According to a June 25 report by Ryan Hanrahan of Farm Policy News, citing reporting from DTN and Reuters, the funding request was submitted by the White House Office of Management and Budget as part of a broader $87.6 billion supplemental spending package.
The proposal includes:
- $10 billion in temporary economic assistance for row and specialty crops planted during the 2026 crop year.
- $1.1 billion in targeted disaster assistance for Florida producers recovering from severe winter storms that damaged crops earlier this year.
The request comes as specialty crop growers contend with elevated production costs, labor expenses and market uncertainty. Reuters reported the proposed funding would supplement the approximately $12 billion in farm assistance already distributed this year.
If Congress approves the supplemental request, USDA direct payments to farmers in 2026 would increase substantially, reflecting the Trump administration’s reliance on direct financial assistance to the farm economy.