The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has shared details of a $12 billion farm aid package, outlining the financial assistance farmers growing major crops will receive next year. While the announcement has brought some relief to the farming community, soybean growers have warned that the payments are not enough to offset heavy losses caused by low crop prices and ongoing trade issues.

According to the USDA, $11 billion of the total aid will be distributed through the Farmer Bridge Assistance program. This program will provide one-time payments to farmers based on the number of acres they planted in 2025. Farmers who planted any of the 19 approved commodity crops are eligible. The USDA said the payment rates were calculated using 2025 planted acreage, cost-of-production data, and current market conditions.

U.S. farmers had massive corn and soybean harvests this fall. However, a global oversupply of grains led to a sharp fall in prices, resulting in billions of dollars in losses for farmers. Soybean producers were hit particularly hard after losing major export sales to China. China, the world’s largest soybean buyer, turned to South American suppliers as trade talks between the two countries stalled.

While the aid package is expected to help farmers cover costs for the upcoming planting season, growers and agricultural economists say the payments represent only a small portion of their losses. They argue that the support will not be enough to stabilise the struggling U.S. farm economy.

Under the USDA plan, rice farmers will receive the highest per-acre payment at $132.89. Cotton farmers are set to receive $117.35 per acre, while oat farmers will get $81.75 per acre. In comparison, corn farmers are eligible for $44.36 per acre, soybean farmers for $30.88 per acre, and wheat farmers for $39.35 per acre.

Soybean growers have expressed strong disappointment with the announced rates. “Due to significant trade losses this year, the payment rate for soybeans will likely not be enough for soybean farmers to keep their operations financially solvent as we move into the next planting season,” said Scott Metzger, an Ohio farmer and president of the American Soybean Association, which represents nearly half a million soybean producers.

Sorghum growers, who are set to receive $48.11 per acre, view the payments more positively. Tim Lust, chief executive officer of the National Sorghum Producers, said the aid is a welcome support even though export demand for sorghum has improved in recent months.

In addition to corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, cotton, oats, and sorghum, several other crops are eligible for the program. These include peanuts, barley, canola, sunflower, lentils, peas, mustard, safflower, flax, large and small chickpeas, and sesame. The USDA said farmers can expect to receive the payments by February 28.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed the timeline, stating that the payments are expected to be issued by February 28. The remaining $1 billion from the total aid package has been set aside for speciality crop and sugar farmers. However, the USDA said details regarding how this portion of the funds will be distributed, as well as the timing of those payments, are still being finalised.

U.S. President Donald Trump first announced the $12 billion aid package on December 8. Farm groups and Republican lawmakers from agricultural states had pushed for the support, saying it was necessary to help farmers manage rising costs for seeds, fertiliser, and other essential inputs.

Despite the announcement, many farmers remain concerned that the assistance will not be enough to protect them from continued financial stress as they prepare for the next growing season.