The USDA will administer the Harvest Fuel Relief program
The U.S. government will provide farmers with support to offset high diesel costs.
On Oct. 19, President Trump announced “that the Department of Agriculture will be launching a new ‘Harvest Fuel Relief Program,’ providing our Farmers with 8 BILLION DOLLARS in support to offset Diesel Costs during this Harvest Season,” he posted on Truth Social.
The support will come from the Commodity Credit Corporation and administered by the Farm Service Agency in the form of one-time payments.
Since the funding is coming from the CCC, the program might not require congressional approval.
The USDA will calculate payment rates the same way it did for another assistance package.
“Similar to the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, the Harvest Fuel Relief program will provide simple, proportional support to producers using a uniform formula to cover a portion of modeled losses during the 2026 crop year,” a USDA release about the program says.
For context, the payments for the FBA were calculated “by multiplying the applicable payment rate for an eligible commodity by the eligible acreage timely reported for the commodity on the FSA-578,” the Federal Register says.
Information for some producers regarding the harvest fuel program could be available next month.
Payment rates for Title 1 commodities like corn, soybeans, wheat, and seed cotton, are expected to be released in November while rates for other eligible commodities will come later.
Farmers producing non-Title 1 commodities, including livestock and fruits and vegetables, are asked to complete an additional step.
These farmers are being encouraged to provide the USDA with data related to increase fuel costs.
The ag community welcomes the support but is urging the Trump administration to tackle other issues as well.
“We appreciate the administration recognizing how the high cost of inputs, especially diesel fuel prices during harvest time, is adding to the economic pain of America’s farmers,” Matt Frostic, president of the National Corn Growers Association, said in a statement. “As we work to tackle the many economic challenges facing growers and rural communities, we urge Washington to focus on durable, bipartisan, long-term solutions that will result in lasting improvements to the farm and national economy.
“Such solutions include passing legislation that will allow for the year-round sale of E15, renewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, taking actions to improve access to new markets for U.S. farmers, like maritime and sustainable aviation fuel, and passing a robust farm bill.”
The National Association of Wheat Growers and the National Farmers Union issued similar statements.
Other groups, like Farm Action, said the administration is relying on taxpayers to support farmers rather than “addressing the policies and corporate power driving up costs and squeezing farm incomes.”