Direct Government payments to U.S. farm producers, 2022–26F

Direct Government farm program payments are those made by the Federal Government to farmers and ranchers with no intermediaries. Most direct payments to farmers and ranchers are administered by the USDA using the Farm Bill but can also come from supplemental programs authorized by the U.S. Congress. Government payments discussed here do not include Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) indemnity payments (listed as a separate component of farm income) and USDA loans (listed as a liability in the farm sector’s balance sheet). Direct Government farm program payments are forecast at $44.3 billion for 2026, a $13.8 billion increase (or 45.2 percent) from the $30.5 billion total for 2025. This overall increase reflects higher anticipated payments from Farm Bill programs that trigger payments when commodity prices fall while supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance payments are expected to remain high.