Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a new $1 billion funding through the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program to provide one-time bridge payments to specialty crop producers impacted by market disruptions, high input costs, inflation, and unfair trade pressures. Specialty crops, including citrus, are eligible.
Payments will be based on 2025 planted acres, and rates will be announced later this month. Importantly, participation in crop insurance is not required to qualify.
Action Items for Growers:
- Report 2025 Planted Acres to FSA: All growers must ensure their 2025 planted acreage is reported with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office no later than March 13, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET). If your acreage is not on file, you will not be eligible for payment.
- Contact Your Local FSA Office Now: If you have not worked with FSA before, or if you are unsure whether your acreage is current, contact your county FSA Office immediately to confirm your records.
- Payment Rate Announcement Pending: USDA has indicated commodity-specific payment rates will be released by the end of March. We will share those details as soon as they are available.
While this is a one-time bridge program, it is important that California citrus growers fully participate to ensure our industry receives its fair share of available support. If you have questions or run into issues with FSA reporting, please contact our office at (559) 592-3790 or ccm@cacitrusmutual.com, and we will do our best to support you.
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