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ECAP payments easing some farm economic strain
An agricultural economist at the University of Illinois says producers are starting to receive payments through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, or ECAP.
Gary Schnitkey says the $10 billion included in the American Relief Act of 2025 will ease some of the financial stress farmers have experienced in the down ag economy.
“That’s a $125,000 limit per individual.” He says, “You can increase that to $225,000 if 75% of your Annual Gross Income (AGI) is from farming.”
He tells Brownfield even with the payments, that range from around $42 per acre for corn and almost $30 an acre for soybeans, many farmers will still have a hard time breaking even.
“There are a lot of farmers that will have negative incomes for 2024.” He says, “It’s a tough time from a cash flow income standpoint. Fortunately, most farmers built up some financial reserves, but those won’t last forever either.”
Schnitkey says producers can apply for ECAP funds by August 15th through their local Farm Service Agency office, or online.
Brownfield spoke with Schnitkey at the recent 2025 Illinois Land Values Conference in Bloomington.
AUDIO: Gary Schnitkey – U of I
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