Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins confirmed that $10 billion in emergency relief payments will be released prior to the March 21 deadline. This would comply with the Congress-approved 90-day window.

Pro Farmer Washington policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer said the initial payment would likely be around 85% of the projected total based on history. A supplemental payment would likely follow this in the summer.

Most analysts expect the per-acre payment rates to be in line with the numbers released by the House Ag Committee last year:

  • $43.80 for corn
  • $30.61 for soybeans
  • $31.80 for wheat
  • $84.70 for cotton
  • $71.37 for rice

Similar to other disaster programs, payments to farmers will be capped depending on how much of a farmer’s income comes from agriculture. If less than 75 percent of the average gross income from 2020 to 2022 is from agriculture, then the limit is $125,000. If more than 75 percent of the average gross income from 2020 to 2022 is from agriculture, the limit is $250,000.

Many producers count on these payments and have factored them into business decisions for next year.

Read more about the $10 billion in economic relief payments to farmers here.