Congress is considering additional farm aid, including proposals that would provide targeted relief for specialty crop producers. AmericanHort members play a critical role in helping lawmakers understand why specialty crops – including ornamental horticulture – must be fully and meaningfully included in any new economic assistance package. Your outreach could make a difference as these discussions move forward. Republicans on the House and Senate agriculture committees are working on a $12 billion farm aid package that would include at least $5 billion for specialty crops. 

Specialty crops are grown in 95% of U.S. farming counties and contribute more than $75 billion in annual cash receipts, accounting for over one-third of all U.S. crop sales. Yet growers continue to face unprecedented pressures, including rising labor and input costs, lost markets, natural disasters, and growing competition from imports.

Between 2020 and 2025 alone, specialty crop growers experienced sharp increases in pesticide, fuel, fertilizer, and labor costs—often without commensurate increases in crop prices. These sustained pressures have left many horticulture businesses operating on thin or negative margins.

Past USDA relief efforts, including the second Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP-2) and the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC), demonstrated that well-designed programs can successfully reach specialty crop growers when payments are structured around individual crop receipts and program requirements reflect real-world business models. AmericanHort is urging Congress to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture builds on existing programs as it considers additional economic aid. 

Please take a moment today to contact your Members of Congress and urge them to support a robust, equitable economic aid program that delivers at least $5 billion in relief for producers of ornamental horticulture specialty crops.

With Congress’s leadership, USDA could provide timely assistance keeping horticulture businesses and specialty crop farms strong.

Thank you for taking action and supporting America’s specialty crop industry.