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- By Shaun Griswold
Native American farmers who grow specialty crops like blackberries, sweet potatoes and tomatillos can now apply for one-time bridge payments from the United States Department of Agriculture to assist with the loss of revenues from crop yields in 2025.
The $1 billion available for farmers through the Farm Bridge Assistance program is in addition to the $11 billion offered by the program last year for crops that include barley, corn, lentils, and more. Farmers who were approved for that first batch of aid should begin to receive payments by Feb. 28, the USDA said.
“These one-time bridge payments will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports,” according to a USDA press release.
The additional $1 billion for specialty crops was announced Feb. 13. To be considered, farmers must have accurate 2025 acreage reports sent to the USDA by 5 p.m. EST on March 13. Crop insurance linkage is not required to qualify for an award under the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program.
“If our specialty crop producers are not economically able to continue their operations, American families will see a decrease in the food they rely on, wholesome and nutritious fruits and vegetables,” USDA Secretary Brook Rollins said. “Putting Farmers First is essential to the Make America Healthy Again movement and we are doing both at USDA by expanding market opportunities and improving the farm economy for all producers.”
The program for specialty crops is authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and will be administered by the U.S. Farm Service Agency.
More information is available online at www.fsa.usda.gov/fba. Producers can also contact their local Farm Service Agency county office for additional details or to follow up on applications.
The full list of ASCF eligible crops includes many items that align with Indigenous Food Systems.
These include:
- Almond, Apple, Apricot, Aronia berry, Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado
- Banana, Bean (Snap or green; Lima; Dry edible), Beet (Table), Blackberry, Blueberry, Breadfruit, Broccoli (including Broccoli Raab), Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage (including Chinese), Cacao, Carrot, Cashew, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Cherimoya, Cherry, Chestnut (for Nuts), Chive, Citrus, Coconut, Coffee, Collards (including Kale), Cranberry, Cucumber, Currant
- Date, Dry Edible Beans and Peas* (*Dry edible beans and peas covered by FBA will not be eligible for ASCF.)
- Edamame, Eggplant, Endive
- Feijou, Fig, Filbert (Hazelnut)
- Garlic, Gooseberry, Grape (including Raisin), Guava
- Horseradish
- Kiwi, Kohlrabi
- Leek, Lettuce, Litchi
- Macadamia, Mango, Melon (All Types), Mushroom (Cultivated), Mustard and Other Greens
- Nectarine
- Okra, Olive, Onion, Opuntia
- Papaya, Parsley, Parsnip, Passion Fruit, Pea (Garden; English or Edible Pod; Dry edible), Peach, Pear, Pecan, Pepper, Persimmon, Pineapple, Pistachio, Plum (including Prune), Pomegranate, Potato, Pumpkin
- Quince
- Radish (All Types), Raspberry, Rhubarb, Rutabaga
- Salsify, Spinach, Squash (Summer and Winter), Strawberry, Suriname Cherry, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard
- Taro, Tomato (including Tomatillo), Turnip
- Walnut, Watermelon
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