From the experts at First Ag Risk Management, here are helpful updates on the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, 2026 farm program options, and the latest in crop insurance.

Farmer Bridge Assistance

At the end of December, the USDA announced payment rates for the various crops that are included in the Farmer Bridge Assistance program (FBA).

A total of $12 billion was allocated for this program, providing economic assistance payments to producers of qualifying crops to offset declining profit margins for the 2025 crop year.

FBA payments are also meant to offset price impacts from the export market tariffs.

Of the $12 billion allocation, $11 billion will be paid to producers of the following crops: corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice.

The remaining $1 billion has been earmarked for specialty crop producers. Below are a list of area crops and their corresponding FBA payment rate:

• Soybeans – $30.88 per acre
• Corn – $44.36 per acre
• Wheat – $39.35 per acre
• Oats – $81.75 per acre

Your local Farm Service Agency will manage the application for the FBA program.

Pre-filled applications were made available at FSA offices the week of February 23, with payment distribution beginning the week of February 28.

There is a $155,000 payment limit per eligible person or legal entity.

Entities such as LLCs, corporations, trusts, etc. will be limited to a maximum payment limit of $155,000.

Any person or entity with an adjusted gross income exceeding $900,000 will not be eligible to receive FBA payments.

2026 farm program and crop insurance updates

New in 2026, the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) will be available to producers that choose the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and the Ag Risk Coverage (ARC-CO) farm program options.

In recent years, a producer that elected PLC for a crop would not be eligible to purchase SCO from their crop insurance provider.

To provide a quick refresher: SCO is a county-based product that a producer can elect, which provides additional (county-based) coverage over and above your underlying individual policy coverage, for up to 86% total coverage (individual + county-based).

Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is another area-based insurance coverage that allows a producer to cover an additional band of revenue above SCO, increasing individual plus SCO coverage from 86% to up to 95%.

Again, SCO and ECO are area-based coverage options that can be elected by March 16, 2026, which is the crop insurance sales closing date.

In 2024, SCO and ECO carried a 44% premium subsidy. In 2025, the federal government increased that subsidy to 65%.

New in 2026, the federal government is now subsidizing SCO and ECO premiums up to 80%.

The increased subsidy from 2024 to 2025 resulted in enrolled acres jumping from 15 million in 2024 to more than 60 million acres in 2025.

With the additional subsidy in 2026, we would expect to see another substantial increase in acreage enrolled in SCO and ECO.

Finally, remember that the spring crop insurance prices for corn, soybeans, and spring wheat were released last week.

For more information regarding ag policy updates, farm program options, and crop and livestock insurance updates, reach out to your Ag Banker or give us a call at (605) 335-5268.