USDA’s Farm Service Agency is issuing up to $10 billion in direct payments to eligible agricultural producers of eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). These one-time economic assistance payments will help commodity producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.
To be eligible, producers must meet the following requirements:
- Be actively engaged in farming.
- Have an interest in input expenses for a covered commodity.
- Have reported acreage of eligible commodities to 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).
Note: 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 August 15, 2025 deadline.
Eligible acreage, commodities, and ECAP payment rates (per acre):
- 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 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 RMA 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.
March 19 and runs through August 15, 2025
- Pre-filled ECAP applications will be mailed to all producers with a reported eligible commodity as of March 10, 2025.
- After verifying and completing Form FSA-63 ECAP producers should submit their application to their local FSA county office. Options to submit ECAP applications include:
- In-person
- Electronically using Box and One-span
- Fax
- The online application (available on March 19, 2025) using a secure login.gov account
- One application will cover a producer's entire operation nationwide
- Applications must be submitted by August 15, 2025
Producers do not have to wait for their pre-filled ECAP application to apply. They can apply using a login.gov account or contact their local FSA office to request an application once the signup period opens.
Producers must have the following forms on file with FSA for the 2024 crop year:
- Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
- Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable).
- Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
- Form CCC-943, 75 percent of Average Gross Income from Farming, Ranching, or Forestry Certification (if applicable).
- AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.
- Form SF-3881, Direct Deposit.
Except for the new form CCC-943, most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these forms on file. However, those who are uncertain and want to confirm the status of their forms or need to submit the new Form CCC-943, can contact their local FSA county office.
Producers who did not receive a pre-filled ECAP application and planted or were prevented from planting ECAP eligible commodities in 2024, should contact their local FSA office.
Online Application (available March 19, 2025)
ECAP Payments and Calculator
ECAP payments will be issued as applications are approved. ECAP assistance will be calculated using a flat payment rate for the eligible commodity multiplied by the eligible reported acres. Initial ECAP payments will be factored by 85 percent to ensure total program payments do not exceed available funding. If additional funds remain FSA may issue a second payment.
Payments are based on acreage not production. For acres reported as prevented planted, ECAP will be limited to 50 percent of reported acres.
For an ECAP payment estimate use the ECAP online calculator.
As provided by the American Relief Act, 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 percent 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; and
- $250,000, if not less than 75 percent 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.
- A payment made to a legal entity will be attributed to those members who have a direct or indirect ownership interest in the legal entity, unless the payment of the legal entity has been reduced by the proportionate ownership interest of the member due to that member’s ineligibility.
- These payment limitations are separate from the payment limitations that apply to other programs.
-
ECAP Application (available March 19, 2025)
Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable).
Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
Form CCC-943, 75 percent of Average Gross Income from Farming, Ranching, or Forestry Certification (if applicable)
AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification