On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that a second round of payments up to $1.3 billion would be issued this week to specialty crop producers, including citrus growers, through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) delivered almost $900 million in first-round payments to eligible producers earlier this year.
“President Trump is again putting farmers first. After a thorough review of USDA funding for certain programs to ensure they align with the President’s policies and uphold our commitment to responsible distribution of American taxpayer dollars, USDA resumed MASC payments. I am happy to announce this second round of support for specialty crop producers today and we are thankful for the work they do to produce the safest, most abundant food supply for our families and the world,” said Secretary Rollins.
The MASC program, first announced in December 2024, authorized $2 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds to assist specialty crop growers with rising input costs and expand domestic markets. In January, funding was increased to $2.65 billion in response to stakeholder feedback and program demand. The MASC application period closed on January 10, 2025.
The program is designed to help specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to:
- Perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs
- Specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control
- Packaging to prevent damage
- Moving perishables to market quickly
- Increased labor costs
If you have applied for this program and have further questions, please contact your local FSA office.
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