Farmers Can Apply for Federal Ag Assistance Program

The $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance program aims to help producers facing low prices and high input costs

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The federal government has announced a $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance program to provide aid to farmers, including $150 million specifically for sugar producers. Farmers can now apply for the program through their local Farm Service Agency office or an online application site. The payments are intended to help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, inflation, and unfair trade practices until policy changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect later this year.

Why it matters

The Farmer Bridge Assistance program is a critical lifeline for farmers in North Dakota and across the country who are facing significant financial pressures due to low commodity prices, high input costs, and trade issues. This federal aid could help keep many family farms afloat during a challenging economic period for the agriculture industry.

The details

The Farmer Bridge Assistance program will provide per-acre payments to farmers, including $30.88 for soybeans, $39.35 for wheat, and $44.36 for corn. In addition, $150 million has been allocated specifically for sugar producers, a key crop in the Red River Valley region. Farmers can apply for the program through their local Farm Service Agency office or an online application site that went live on Monday. The application process is streamlined, with farmers only needing to check a few boxes and electronically sign. Payments are expected to be issued relatively quickly, within a few days of application approval.

  • The Farmer Bridge Assistance program was announced by the federal government in December 2025.
  • The online application site for the program went live on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • The USDA also announced $89.1 million in disaster assistance to sugar growers for 2023-24 drought-related losses on Friday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Brad Thykeson

North Dakota's state director for the Farm Service Agency, who farms with his two sons in Steele County.

Jared Hagert

The new U.S. Department of Agriculture deputy administrator of farm programs.

Brandi Laframboise

An official with the North Dakota FSA office.

Brian Leier

President of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association.

Justin Sherlock

President of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association.

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What they’re saying

“I was able to check a couple boxes, consent and electronically sign. So it is really simple and very streamlined.”

— Brad Thykeson, North Dakota's state director for the Farm Service Agency (North Dakota Monitor)

“We do expect that the payments will be out relatively quickly.”

— Brandi Laframboise, Official with the North Dakota FSA office (North Dakota Monitor)

“I kind of laugh. I called them the Bridge to Nowhere, given the bleak outlook for the farm economy.”

— Brian Leier, President of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association (North Dakota Monitor)

“We have to have markets. We cannot just keep giving government payments.”

— Justin Sherlock, President of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association (North Dakota Monitor)

What’s next

The USDA announced that an application period for specialty crop producers will come at a later date.

The takeaway

The Farmer Bridge Assistance program is a critical short-term measure to help support North Dakota's farmers and the broader agriculture industry, which is facing significant economic challenges. However, long-term solutions are still needed to address the underlying issues of low commodity prices, high input costs, and unfair trade practices.