Letlow Provides Information on Farm Assistance Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the expediting of $10 billion in economic assistance payments to certain agricultural producers to mitigate increased economic headwinds faced in 2024. This funding, which provides a one-time payment to farmers of qualifying commodities facing economic hardship, was made available by year-end passage of the FARM Act sponsored by Reps. Trent Kelly (R-MS) and Julia Letlow (R-LA).

The payments will be made from the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The program pays a flat rate per acre of eligible commodities, with USDA committing to begin distributing funds by Friday, March 21 for those whose applications have been approved.

Eligible producers can now apply for relief in-person at their local FSA office, online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap, or wait for pre-filled applications to come in the mail from USDA. More information on documentation needed for applying and the formula for calculating relief payments can be found at fsa.usda.gov/ecap.

"This support will help our farmers sustain their operations and prepare for the upcoming harvest, and is targeted toward those at the heart of our food supply who have suffered from conditions which are no fault of their own," said Congresswoman Letlow, who helped spearhead congressional passage of the funding. "This funding responds to the immediate needs of our Louisiana agricultural community, and I'm thrilled to see USDA quickly act on our congressional directive to make this aid available as soon as possible."

For further information, interested parties can visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap.

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