President Trump Announces $8 Billion for Harvest Fuel Relief Program

President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is rolling out an $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program to provide one-time payments to farmers facing higher input costs and market disruptions during the 2026 crop year.

The program will be administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and will use a formula based on reported planted acres, production costs, yields, and prices to calculate payments covering a portion of losses. Title I commodity payment rates will be released in November, and pre-filled applications will be available online in January 2027.

“We appreciate the administration's efforts to provide assistance to farmers facing increased input costs and economic challenges during harvest,” states Mark Bunselmeyer, IL Corn Growers Association President and Maroa, IL farmer. “While this assistance is appreciated, bipartisan long-term solutions are needed to strengthen the farm economy. This includes passing year-round E15 legislation, renewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, improving access to new markets for corn, like maritime and sustainable aviation fuel, and passing a bipartisan Farm Bill.”

While the Harvest Fuel Relief Program offers some assistance, IL Corn continues to support policies that address the economic challenges facing farmers and create long-term opportunities.