Summary#
The Farm and Family Relief Act would provide one-time economic help for some farm families, specialty crop producers, sugar beet cooperative members, and timber businesses. It would also delay certain cost shifts in the Food and Nutrition Act, create a Forest Service Office of Technology Transfer, add a program to promote timber product markets, and end duties imposed by four named Executive orders.
Key program details in the text include:
- Delay changes to benefit and administrative cost-sharing dates in the Food and Nutrition Act (moves several dates from 2028–2029 to 2032–2033 and related shifts described in the bill).
- For the 2025 crop year, the Secretary of Agriculture would make a one-time payment to producers of specified loan commodities (wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, rice, etc.) if expected gross return per acre is less than expected cost per acre. Payment formulas use December 2025 WASDE projected prices and 10-year average yields, and pay 65% of the measured economic loss times eligible acres, reduced by any Farmer Bridge Assistance Program payments for the same crop/acreage. Payment limits and income-based caps apply.
- Sugar beet cooperatives would receive block grants from a $330,000,000 appropriation to pay cooperative members for 2025 crop losses. The Secretary would set a per-acre payment rate and offset prior Farmer Bridge Assistance payments.
- A specialty crops program would make one-time payments to help expand or develop markets. Payments are based on 2025 sales (or estimated 2026 sales for new producers), capped at $900,000 per producer. The program is funded at $5,000,000,000, with a rescission rule for unobligated funds after two years and an offset for prior Farmer Bridge Assistance payments.
- A timber assistance program would offer one-time payments/grants and loans/loan guarantees for 2025 timber-related revenue losses and for business needs. Payment caps include up to $40,000 for payments (65% of losses subject to offsets) and up to $5,000,000 for loans. The program is funded at $500,000,000, split $250,000,000 for payments/grants and $250,000,000 for loans/guarantees.
- The Forest Service would create an Office of Technology Transfer led by a Chief Commercialization Officer, with a Technology Transfer Working Group and annual reports to Congress. The Commodity Credit Corporation would provide $5,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026–2031 for the Office.
- The International Forestry Cooperation Act would gain a Domestic Market Assistance Program with a $15,000,000 transfer from the Treasury to promote U.S. timber product markets.
- The bill would state that duties imposed by four specified Executive orders (listed by number) have no force or effect on or after enactment.
- The bill designates the Secretary as the Secretary of Agriculture and labels the amounts in the Act as emergency requirements.
What it means for you#
- Farmers and producers of listed loan commodities may be eligible for a one-time payment for 2025 losses if the expected return is below expected costs. How much an individual farm receives depends on the Secretarys calculations, acres, and offsets for any Farmer Bridge Assistance payments.
- Specialty crop producers can apply for a one-time payment to help expand or develop markets. New producers can use estimated 2026 sales under certain conditions. Payments are limited per producer and reduced by Farmer Bridge Assistance payments for the same losses.
- Members of sugar beet cooperatives could receive per-acre payments from cooperative block grants funded by $330,000,000.
- Timber-related businesses and owners may apply for payments, grants, loans, or loan guarantees for 2025 timber revenue losses or to address operating costs and investments. Individual caps and offsets apply.
- The Forest Service would have a new office to support moving research toward commercial use and patent protection, and it would report annually on technology transfer activity.
- Duties from four listed Executive orders would be ended as of enactment.
- Exact payment levels and program details depend on future Secretary of Agriculture actions and secondary regulations.
Expenses#
The bill specifies the following funding amounts in the text:
- Specialty crops program: $5,000,000,000 appropriated to the Secretary for the program.
- Sugar beet block grants: $330,000,000 appropriated to the Secretary.
- Timber assistance: $500,000,000 appropriated, with $250,000,000 for payments/grants and $250,000,000 for loans/guarantees.
- Forest Service Office of Technology Transfer: $5,000,000 from the Commodity Credit Corporation for each fiscal year 2026 through 2031.
- Domestic Market Assistance Program: $15,000,000 transferred from the Treasury to the Secretary for that program.
No publicly available information on total net fiscal effects beyond these appropriations and the bills emergency designation and rescission language.
Proponents' View#
The sponsors introduced the measure to provide economic assistance to agricultural producers and families, support specialty crops and timber sectors, expand market opportunities for U.S. timber products, and strengthen Forest Service technology transfer and commercialization efforts. The text frames the measures as emergency assistance for 2025 losses and as investments in market development and research commercialization.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.