The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to release payment rates in November for Title I commodities under its $8 billion farm-aid program, which targets a portion of modeled 2026 crop losses.
The plan, announced Oct. 19, calls for USDA to calculate a national modeled-loss average as the basis for one-time payments. The calculation will use planted acreage, production-cost estimates and projections for crop yields and prices. The payments are intended to cover only part of estimated losses for the 2026 crop year.
No application window has been announced. Details for other eligible commodities are expected later. Earlier this year, USDA made one-time payments totaling $12 billion to more than 560,000 farmers. EconoTimes previously covered the $8 billion program.
USDA’s September forecast projected that farm fuel and oil expenses would rise $4.8 billion, or 28.8%, from 2025. It also put net farm income at $158.4 billion, down 2.6%. Those figures provide context for the aid plan amid higher farm operating costs.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Oct. 20 a pilot program that may reward qualifying tips leading to charges in specified federal health-care offenses or fraud involving programs or benefits administered by certain federal agencies. Potential payments range from $10,000 to $30,000 when tips result in criminal charges. DOJ will decide whether to make an award.
USDA’s next farm-income forecast is scheduled for Dec. 2.
