The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended up to $1 billion of assistance to specialty crop growers.

The payments offer a one-time bridge to help make up for market disruptions, input costs, inflation and unfair export impediment, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture news release on Feb. 13. 

The payments come from the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program and are based on acreage, not revenue. Growers have until March 13 to report 2025 acres to the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Apples, cherries, pears, blueberries, grapes and stone fruit are eligible, among other specialty crops, including sugar, according to the release.

The announcement came on the heels of the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, announced in December, with $11 billion in bridge payments available for major crop producers. •