INDIANA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), allocating up to $10 billion in direct payments to eligible agricultural producers for the 2024 crop year.
This one-time economic assistance aims to help farmers mitigate the impacts of rising input costs and declining commodity prices.
Eligibility Requirements:
To qualify for ECAP payments, producers must:
- Be actively engaged in farming.
- Have input expenses related to eligible commodities.
- The FSA has reported 2024 crop year acreage (planted and prevented planting) using the FSA-578 Report of Acreage form.
- They have reported preventing planting acres using the CCC-576 Notice of Loss form (if applicable).
- Producers who have not yet reported 2024 acreage or prevented planting losses must do so by August 15, 2025.
Eligible Acreage, Commodities, and Payment Rates:
The program covers various commodities, with payment rates determined per acre. Specific details on eligible commodities and payment rates are available through the FSA. Key points include:
- Double-cropped acreage is eligible for payments on both plantings.
- Acreage with multiple intended uses is eligible for payment on only one use.
- Grazed small grain acreage followed by a spring commodity planting may qualify for both.
- Prevented planting acreage is limited to 50% of reported acres.
- Volunteer, experimental, and green manure acreage are ineligible.
Application Process:
- Pre-filled ECAP applications will be mailed to eligible producers who reported eligible commodities by March 10, 2025.
- Producers can submit completed applications in person, electronically (Box, One-span, login.gov), or by fax to their local FSA county office.
- The application deadline is August 15, 2025.
- Producers can apply before receiving the pre-filled application using a login.gov account or by contacting their local FSA office.
- Producers must have specific forms on file with the FSA, including AD-2047, CCC-901 (if applicable), CCC-902, CCC-943 (New Form), AD-1026, and SF-3881.
- Producers who believe they are eligible and did not receive a prefilled application should contact their local FSA office.
Click here to apply.
Payment Details:
- Payments are issued as applications are approved.
- Payments are calculated using a flat rate per acre.
- Initial payments will be factored by 85% to ensure funding availability, with the potential for a second payment.
- The payment limitations are $125,000 for those who earn less than 75% of their average gross income from farming and $250,000 for those who earn 75% or more.
- An online calculator is available to estimate payments.
Important Dates:
- The application period ends on August 15, 2025.
Farmers are encouraged to contact their local FSA county office for more information and to apply for this vital assistance.
