USDA announces $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program for farmers

As of 6:41 a.m. ET, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will make $8 billion available for one-time payments to farmers through a new Harvest Fuel Relief Program, the department said Monday, in an announcement by President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

USDA said the payments are meant "to provide relief during temporary market disruptions and increased input costs." A graphic the department posted on X said the payments are intended "To help cover a portion of estimated losses due to increased fuel expenses from the 2026 crop year."

In remarks shown in a video clip posted on X, Trump said he was "pleased to announce that the Department of Agriculture will be launching a new harvest fuel relief program providing our farmers with $8 billion in support to offset diesel costs during this harvest season." He credited Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.: "And Roger Marshall is the leader who fought for that to happen. Roger got it to happen."

"Today, I am proud to announce alongside President Trump more targeted relief is coming to our farmers through the Harvest Fuel Relief program," Rollins said in a USDA release. "This $8 billion dollar investment will help bring certainty to our farmers during this harvest so they can continue to feed our nation."

USDA said the program will use a uniform formula to cover a portion of modeled losses during the 2026 crop year, based on planted acres reported to the Farm Service Agency, Economic Research Service cost-of-production estimates, and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates yields and prices.

USDA has not yet released payment rates. The department said commodity-specific rates for Title I commodities will be released in November and that the payment method for other eligible commodities will be announced later. It did not say how the $8 billion would be divided among commodities.

The payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and will be administered by the Farm Service Agency, according to USDA. The department said crop insurance linkage will not be required to take part.

USDA said pre-filled applications will be available online to producers with a Login.gov account linked to USDA, and its graphic said those applications will be available for Title I commodities in January 2027. The department encouraged producers of non-Title I commodities, including specialty crop growers and fishermen, to send data on increased fuel costs to HarvestFuel@usda.gov for consideration in setting payment rates.

Earlier this year, USDA's Farmer Bridge Assistance program delivered $12 billion in one-time payments to more than 560,000 farmers, the department said.