Summary#
This bill provides $3,500,000,000 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Office of the Secretary) to give block grants to States. The grants are for losses of revenue, quality, or production of crops (including prevented planting), trees, bushes, and vines caused by a freeze or cold weather condition. The assistance must include compensation to producers for losses of multi-year crops. Funds are available only for losses occurring in counties that received a disaster designation for freeze and related cold weather conditions issued by the Secretary on March 4, 2026. Funds are available upon request from a State department of agriculture or another State agency as determined by the Secretary. The money is appropriated for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and remains available until expended. The Secretary must report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees within 120 days after enactment and then each fiscal quarter until the funds are spent. The amount is designated as an emergency requirement under section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
What it means for you#
- State agriculture departments or other State agencies can request block grant funds from USDA to respond to freeze-related losses in eligible counties.
- Farmers and producers in counties that received the Secretary's March 4, 2026 disaster designation may receive compensation for crop losses, including losses of multi-year crops and prevented planting, if the State requests funds and USDA provides assistance.
- Only losses that occurred in the counties named in the March 4, 2026 disaster designation are eligible under this bill.
- No publicly available information on detailed eligibility rules, application steps, or exact payment amounts is included in the bill text.
Expenses#
- The bill appropriates $3,500,000,000 from the Treasury to USDA (Office of the Secretary). The funds remain available until expended and are for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027.
- The appropriation is designated as an emergency requirement under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
- No publicly available information on how the funds will be divided among States, specific payment formulas, or the overall long-term budget impact is included in the bill text.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.