The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced the launch of the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), which will provide up to $10 billion in direct payments to eligible agricultural producers for the 2024 crop year. The program is designed to help farmers manage the financial strain of rising input costs and declining commodity prices.
The payments are a one-time form of economic relief and will be available to producers who meet specific eligibility criteria. To qualify, farmers must be actively engaged in farming, have an interest in the input expenses of a covered commodity, and report their 2024 crop year acreage using required FSA forms.
To participate, producers must have submitted either the FSA-578 Report of Acreage or, in the case of prevented planting, a CCC-576 Notice of Loss form. Those who have not yet submitted these documents still have time—the deadline to apply and submit all forms is August 15, 2025.
“This program will be a vital lifeline for producers who are facing the dual challenge of high production costs and unstable market prices,” said an FSA spokesperson. “It’s meant to ensure stability in the ag economy and help farmers stay competitive.”
The ECAP will cover a variety of eligible commodities and acreage types, including approved double crop combinations, provided the producer had a reasonable expectation of yield. However, acreage with experimental crops, volunteer crops, or land left for green manure is not eligible. Additionally, producers may only receive payments for one intended use if multiple uses were reported for the same acreage.
In some cases, producers who grazed small grain acreage but still planted a spring commodity may be eligible for both plantings—if a Risk Management Agency (RMA) short rate policy was in effect for 2024.
Pre-filled ECAP applications will be mailed to all eligible producers who have reported qualifying commodities by March 10, 2025. However, producers do not need to wait for a mailed application to get started—they can apply online using a secure login.gov account, or contact their local FSA office to request an application.
Applications can be submitted in several ways:
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In person at local FSA offices
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Electronically via Box or One-span
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By fax
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Online through the USDA's ECAP application portal
Each application will cover a producer's entire farming operation nationwide.
To finalize their application, producers must ensure they have the following forms on file with FSA:
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AD-2047 (Customer Data Worksheet)
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CCC-901 (Member Info for Legal Entities, if applicable)
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CCC-902 (Farm Operating Plan)
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CCC-943 (75% Average Gross Income from Farming Certification, if applicable)
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AD-1026 (HELC/Wetland Certification)
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SF-3881 (Direct Deposit Form)
Most experienced producers are likely to already have these forms on file, but they are encouraged to verify with their local office, especially to ensure submission of the newer CCC-943 form.
Producers who do not receive a pre-filled application but believe they are eligible—either through planting or prevented planting of eligible commodities—should reach out to their local FSA office as soon as possible.
For more information, visit www.farmers.gov or contact your local Farm Service Agency office.