WAWG
Just days before the March 21 deadline, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has released details on the $10 billion Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), which will provide one-time payments to help producers dealing with increased input costs and falling commodity prices. The program runs from March 19 through Aug. 15, 2025, and applies to the 2024 crop year. Payments are based on acreage not production.
Eligible acreage and payment rates for wheat are $30.69 per acre. Other crop payments are barley at $21.67; canola at $31.83; chickpeas at $31.45 (small) and $24.02 (large); and lentils at $19.30. ECAP payments will be calculated using a flat rate for the eligible commodity multiplied by the eligible reported acres. Initial payments will be factored by 85% to ensure total program payments do not exceed available funding. If additional funds remain, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) may issue a second payment.
To be eligible, producers must:
- Be actively engaged in farming
- Have an interest in input expenses for a covered commodity.
- Have reported acreage of eligible commodities to the FSA for the 2024 crop year planted and prevent plant acres to FSA on an FSA-578, Report of Acreage form.
- Have reported acres that were prevented from being planted to FSA for the 2024 crop year on an FSA-576 Notice of Loss form (if applicable).
Producers who have not previously reported 2024 crop year acreage or filed a notice of loss for prevent plant crops must submit an acreage report by the Aug. 15 deadline.
Acreage that has been reported with both an initial commodity and a double crop commodity will be eligible for payment on both plantings if in an approved double cropping combination. Acreage that has multiple intended uses will only be eligible for payment on one intended use. If multiple producers have an interest, the payment is limited to the applicant that has the interest in input expenses.
Producers will be eligible for payment on both plantings in situations where producers graze small grain acreage and then still could timely plant a spring commodity with a reasonable expectation to produce a normal yield, therefore making use of both commodities if there is an Risk Management Agency short rate policy in effect for 2024.
In cases where an initial eligible commodity failed or was prevented from being planted and the producer planted a subsequent eligible commodity for the 2024 crop year, eligible acreage will be limited to the initial crop if not in an approved double crop combination. Volunteer acreage, experimental acreage, and acreage with an intended use of green manure or left standing are not eligible for payment under ECAP.
Prefilled ECAP applications will be mailed to producers with a reported eligible commodity. After verifying and completing the form, producers should submit their application to their local FSA county office either in person, electronically, or by fax. Producers who have a login.gov account will be able to access the application online without waiting for their prefilled application to arrive. Applications must be submitted by Aug. 15, 2025.
The total amount of ECAP payments received, directly or indirectly, by a person or legal entity (except a joint venture or general partnership) may not exceed:
- $125,000, if less than 75% of the average gross income of the person or legal entity for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 tax years is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry activities.
- $250,000, if not less than 75% of the average gross income of the person or legal entity for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 tax years is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry activities.
- Gross income will be calculated based on the applicable three-year average (2020, 2021, and 2022) of the reported “total income” on IRS forms 1040, 1041, 1065, and 1120, or similar forms.
These payment limitations are separate from the payment limitations that apply to other programs.
For more information, contact your local FSA county office or visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap.