Economic Relief for Specialty Crops Act
Introduced June 2, 2026 · Last action June 2, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill appropriates $5 billion for fiscal year 2027 to the Secretary of Agriculture to provide direct payments to producers of specialty crops (such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts). The payments will be made through an existing or substantially similar Department of Agriculture assistance program, with terms and conditions set by a notice issued in January 2025.
Who benefits
Producers of specialty crops, including farmers growing fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, herbs, and similar high-value crops. This includes individual farm operations, agricultural cooperatives, and farming entities that grow these crops commercially.
Who pays / loses
U.S. taxpayers, as the $5 billion is appropriated from the federal budget. No specific groups lose existing benefits, though taxpayers bear the cost of the program.
Fiscal note: $5 billion for fiscal year 2027
Funding & Lobbying Interests
The specialty crop farming industry has a direct financial stake in this legislation passing. Specialty crop producer associations, agricultural commodity organizations representing fruit, vegetable, and nut growers, and agricultural input suppliers serving these sectors all lobby for assistance programs. The bill was introduced by Senator Adam Schiff; no sponsor finance data was provided in the materials.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Specialty crop farmers and farming operations across the United States, concentrated in regions with significant production of fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts (including California, Florida, Washington, and other agricultural regions). The bill does not specify acreage thresholds, payment caps, or income limits, so all specialty crop producers—whether small family farms or large commercial operations—appear eligible.
Political Subtext
Proponents frame this as economic relief for specialty crop farmers facing market pressures or production challenges. The bill's reference to an announcement from February 13, 2026, and incorporation of January 2025 Federal Register notice terms suggests this may be formalized relief responding to specific market conditions or trade actions affecting these crops. Critics may argue the bill lacks eligibility caps, means-testing, or clear baseline for calculating payments, potentially allowing large agribusiness operations to receive substantial payments. The provision allowing 'substantially similar' successor programs grants broad discretion to the Secretary to modify program design.
Real-World Stakes
If this passes, $5 billion flows directly to specialty crop producers in 2027, likely stabilizing farm incomes in fruit, vegetable, and tree nut sectors. Analogous federal crop assistance programs (such as the Market Facilitation Program under the 2018 farm bill and ad-hoc disaster assistance) have historically provided significant income support to farmers but have been criticized for disproportionately benefiting larger operations and concentrated regions. The open-ended nature of this appropriation (no spending cap beyond the $5 billion, no explicit per-farm limits) means payments could be distributed broadly without targeting the most vulnerable producers. The delegation of specific payment terms to a Federal Register notice and future Secretary discretion means actual program structure and eligibility will depend on administrative decisions made outside this statute.
Sponsor
Sponsor information not available.
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
No campaign finance data available yet.
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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