5 Things to Know About the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced up to $10 billion issued directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year.

Officially, corn will have a payment rate of $42.91 per acre for the 2024 crop year.

Authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, these economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year.

The sign-up period starts now and will run through August 15, 2025. The USDA will mail pre-filled applications to farmers over the coming days. Farmers can also go online or to their local Farm Service Agency to complete the process.

< Older Post

Green combine harvester in a harvested field under a cloudy sky

Farm Earnings Improve, but Tight Margins Remain

By Lyndi Allen • September 23, 2026

Illinois farmers saw their earnings improve in 2025, but the latest data shows that farm profitability remains well below recent averages.

Dolly Parton Maze from All Seasons Orchard

IL Corn TV: A Dolly Parton Corn Maze Brings Families Back to the Farm

By Tara Desmond • September 22, 2026

A Woodstock, IL farm's Dolly Parton corn maze is one of 18 nationwide honoring the icon and benefiting her Imagination Library literacy program.

farmer next to engine with headphones on

Untreated Hearing Loss & Dementia

By Tamara H. Thompson • September 22, 2026

Untreated hearing loss strains and shrinks the brain and drives social isolation, raising the risk of dementia but early treatment with hearing aids or other devices can help protect against it.

Steve Fourez

Farmer's Stroke Story: Why He Almost Didn't Go to the ER

By Tara Desmond • September 22, 2026

A farmer's stroke went unnoticed until family and coworkers insisted he get help. His Safety Week story on why every minute matters

Sen. Celina Villenueva, Chris Gould, Orlando Rojas, Ambassador Reyna Torres

IL Corn Celebrates Latino Contributions to Agriculture

By Lyndi Allen • September 18, 2026

IL Corn joined partners and community leaders highlight the role of the Latino community in Illinois agriculture and labor.

Tugboat pushing a barge along a river at sunset, with a bridge in the background.

House Passes WRDA 2026, Advancing Inland Waterways Construction Office

By Lyndi Allen • September 17, 2026

The House of Representatives took an important step towards strengthening the nation’s inland waterways by passing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026