The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) joined the American Soybean Association (ASA) in extending appreciation to the Trump administration for unveiling a plan to provide much-needed assistance  to U.S. soybean farmers. The new Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program will deliver targeted, one-time payments to row-crop farmers as an “economic bridge” to the 2026 planting season. Throughout 2025, U.S. soybean farmers have endured a perfect storm of low crop prices, high production cost and loss of critical markets. The FBA Program will provide U.S. farmers with some financial assistance to help cover carried debt from the 2025 season.  

“While we certainly prefer trade over aid, this package is welcome news in farm country,” said Darin Johnson, president of MSGA. “It’s definitely a good start, and we’ll keep working with lawmakers and the Trump administration to advocate for any additional aid, because input costs are increasing across the board as we make our decisions for 2026.”  

MSGA and ASA, which has six Minnesota farmers on its board of directors, will continue to advocate for strong domestic and international markets while also working with Congress to ensure U.S. soybean farmers have the resources needed to make it to the 2026 planting season. Soybeans are Minnesota’s top ag export, valued at over $2 billion annually. In total, Minnesota’s soybean industry contributes over $9 billion annually to Minnesota’s economy.  

“We appreciate the administration’s attention to the challenges farmers continue to face in today’s market,” said ASA President Caleb Ragland. “We look forward to working with Congress and the administration on broader support for the farm economy, including long-term, market-driven solutions that strengthen demand for U.S. sSoy and allow farmers to compete and thrive in the global market.” 

Payments for the FBA Program will be released by Feb. 28, 2026. Click here for more information on the FBA Program. ASA is also urging advocates to use the Soy Action Center to send a pre-written letter to Minnesota’s congressional delegation, urging policymakers to support legislation that provides a flexible payment formula that would account for trade losses in addition to production costs. Per the most recent data, soy farmers are projected to lose an average of $109 per acre in 2025.