USDA Prepares for Sizeable Farm Program Payments This Fall

Farmers are expected to receive sizeable payments from the USDA this fall, according to Seth Meyer, director of the University of Missouri's Food and Ag Policy Research Institute.

Meyer notes that these payments will be significant for corn and cotton farmers in particular, but will also benefit other crops. He attributes the need for these payments to the challenging economic conditions faced by farmers in 2025-2026, as well as the higher reference prices included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The exact payment amounts have not been determined yet, but Meyer explains that farmers will receive the higher of either the Ag Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage program. He emphasizes that these programs are crucial to the safety net for farmers, helping to smooth out individual events and ensure agricultural production remains stable.