Congressman Gabe Evans is encouraging farmers in Colorado’s 8th District to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program. The program, which was recently announced by President Trump along with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, will provide $12 billion in one-time payments to American producers affected by trade market disruptions and higher production costs.
Of the total funds, up to $11 billion will be distributed directly to growers of crops such as barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, mustard, sunflower and other eligible row crops. An additional $1 billion is reserved for farmers producing non-covered or certain specialty crops.
To participate in the program, farmers must ensure their 2025 acreage reports are current with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by 5:00 PM on Friday, December 19, 2025. No crop insurance linkage is required for eligibility.
The program also allows producers who grow specialty crops not specifically listed to qualify if they can show losses due to market disruptions or increased production costs.
Farmers seeking assistance are advised to contact Congressman Evans’ office for guidance. For further questions or help determining eligibility, individuals may reach out to staff members Martha Gallagher or Adrienne Sandoval via email or call 202-225-5625. Producers can also contact USDA directly at farmerbridge@usda.gov.
Payments from the FBA Program are expected to be released by February 28, 2026.
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