Ruskin-area tomato and vegetable growers could qualify for one-time federal payments to offset rising fuel costs under an $8 billion agricultural relief program announced by President Donald Trump on Oct. 19.

The Harvest Fuel Relief Program will provide payments to farmers to cover a portion of estimated losses during the 2026 crop year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Trump announced the program during a rally in Kansas as farmers faced higher diesel prices and other production expenses.

The assistance is intended to address temporary market disruptions and increased input costs. Payments will be calculated using a national formula based on Farm Service Agency acreage records, USDA production cost estimates, and crop yields and prices.

The announcement carries potential significance for Hillsborough County's agricultural industry, particularly growers producing tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers and other specialty crops.

Unlike producers of major commodity crops, however, specialty crop growers must wait for the USDA to release additional details about how their payments will be calculated.

What Ruskin specialty crop growers need to know

The program's rollout separates producers into two categories.

Payment rates for Title I commodities, including crops such as wheat, corn and soybeans, are scheduled for release in November.

For other eligible commodities, including specialty crops, the USDA said it will announce payment methodology at a later date.

In the meantime, the agency is encouraging specialty crop growers and fishermen to submit information documenting increased fuel costs to [email protected].

The USDA will consider that information when determining payment rates. Submitting data does not guarantee a payment, and the agency has not yet announced final eligibility requirements for specialty crop producers.

Farmers are also encouraged to create a Login.gov account and link it to USDA services before the application period begins.

Eligible producers with linked accounts will be able to access prefilled applications online.

The USDA has not announced an application opening date.

Crop insurance participation will not be required to receive assistance through the program.

Federal agency to administer payments

The Farm Service Agency will administer the $8 billion program using authority provided under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the assistance was intended to help stabilize farm operations during the harvest season.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall welcomed the announcement, saying in an Oct. 19 statement that higher diesel prices had squeezed farmers' bottom lines.

The program follows the Farmer Bridge Assistance initiative, which USDA said delivered $12 billion in one-time payments to more than 560,000 farmers earlier this year.

For Ruskin-area growers, the immediate next step is to document increased fuel expenses and submit that information to the USDA while awaiting additional guidance on specialty crop eligibility and payment calculations.

Further information is available through the USDA's official announcement.