USDA announces assistance for sugar farmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on Feb. 20 announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $150 million in assistance to American sugar beet and sugar cane farmers in response to temporary market disruptions and increased production and processing costs.

These one-time payments build upon the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program and Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program, which are designed to ensure producers have the financial stability needed to continue operations and plan for the upcoming crop year.

USDA will work with sugar processors in the coming months to finalize agreements that will deliver assistance directly to farmer-members.

“Today’s announcement serves as a bridge to improvements President Trump and Republicans in Congress have made to the U.S. sugar program, including the first meaningful increase to sugar loan rates in 40 years,” Rollins stated.

USDA is also providing $89.1 million in weather-related disaster assistance to sugar beet producers who suffered losses due to excessive heat in 2024. This funding, provided by Congress via the American Relief Act, 2025, will be administered through eligible beet sugar cooperatives.

Producers who are members of these cooperatives should contact their cooperative for more information.

Sugar beets are one of Idaho’s top agricultural commodities and the state’s farmers typically grow about 170,000 acre of sugar beets each year.