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Many farmers making plans for upcoming Bridge payments

Many farmers are anxiously awaiting upcoming assistance checks.

Matthew Hardecke, a region manager with Farm Credit Illinois, says many farmers already have plans for the soon-to-be-released Farmer Bridge Assistance Program payments.

“As we start going through our renewal season, we’ve already had those conversations.”  He says, “And it does appear, in general, farmers are using that to shore up their balance sheet to provide some liquidity as they finance this next crop.”

He tells Brownfield the $11 billion infusion into the farm economy is needed.

“Some non-production related environmental factors have suppressed our prices.”  He says, “And so to me, that’s an offset of what’s going on geopolitical. And our farm families need that this year. And they’re going to put it to good use, reinvesting in their farms, reinvesting in sustainability.”

Hardecke says the FBA payments are expected to start reaching farmers by the end of this month.

Brownfield spoke with Hardecke at the 2026 Illinois Agricultural Summit in Champaign.

AUDIO: Matthew Hardecke – Farm Credit Illinois