DENVER (DTN) -- Commodity farmers should expect application forms to start arriving soon for $10 billion in emergency economic aid as USDA works to meet a deadline for distributing the funds to producers.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced details of the new Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, or ECAP, as she spoke Sunday to a packed exhibit hall of farmers and vendors at the Commodity Classic show in Denver.

"In the last two weeks, since I've been on the job, we have been working very diligently and as quickly as humanly possible, understanding the urgency of getting these funds out the door," Rollins said. "Our approach is guided by three principles. We want the process to be simple, transparent and fast. My team has been working to stand up this process."

The $10 billion in economic aid was passed by Congress in December and included a formula that determines how much producers will receive per acre based on the crops planted and market prices for those crops.

"They gave us 90 days to start distributing that first $10 billion in economic assistance, and we are on track to beat that and get that money starting to move immediately in the next few weeks," Rollins said.

Along with the economic aid, Congress also passed nearly $20.78 billion in disaster aid for natural disasters farmers faced in 2023 and 2024. Rollins indicated those funds will also fall under the ECAP.

"In cases where we have information already on file, a pre-filled application will be sent to you," Rollins said. "FSA will use the 2024 acreage reporting data you previously filed to initiate that application process," Rollins said.

"There will also be an opportunity for you to provide this information," Rollins said. "If you miss that window, you will be asked to review the information, sign and return the completed application back to your local FSA service center."

Rollins said she wants the $20.78 billion in disaster assistance to be distributed quickly. She criticized the Biden administration for taking as long as a year to distribute disaster aid to farmers. She also said the Trump administration will not use "progressive factoring" or require producers to provide tax returns to receive payments. The Biden administration faced criticism from commodity groups for using progressive factoring under one of its disaster programs, which allocated a higher percentage of payments to smaller producers and less to larger farmers.

"We will have much more to say on this, specifically in the weeks ahead, but it's a new day at USDA," Rollins said.

The announcement from Rollins comes as 15 Democratic senators had sent a letter on Friday calling on USDA asking assurances that economic aid and natural disaster funds will quickly be provided to producers.

"Farmers are making decisions right now about fertilizer usage and their crop mix and are working with their bankers to figure out if they can secure the financing they need to continue farming this year," the senators wrote. "Without the timely delivery of economic and disaster assistance, farmers face the prospect of reducing plantings or liquidating assets to remain in business as they head into another potentially difficult growing season."

Farmers eligible for economic aid will receive a pre-filled application with information

USDA is releasing more funds to farmers with frozen conservation contracts. Rollins said USDA had completed its review of the conservation contracts for farmers under the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).

Still, Rollins repeatedly said USDA was ending "far-left climate agendas" and all programs tied to diversity, equity and inclusion.

"Gone are the days where the USDA will be advancing the Green New Deal. Gone are the days that the USDA will be advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and instead, we will only advance deals that will advance those that put our farmers and our ranchers and our ag community first," Rollins said.

New political staff at USDA "are going line-by-line" through the budget to eliminate contracts tied to climate and diversity, Rollins said. USDA has canceled 340 contracts totaling $300 million in those areas, as well as canceling any DEI employee training.

During a press conference Rollins was asked about whether USDA was revisiting some of the job cuts that took place as many of them left USDA research labs and facilities understaffed as a result. Rollins acknowledged the job cuts have been "an extremely aggressive effort and there will be mistakes made and there have been mistakes made." She pointed to the firings, and rehiring, of researchers working on avian influenza as one of those mistakes.

"That is a really important part of this as we are moving at Trump speed and there will be some mistakes made and we will fully take responsibility for it and recognize when that happens," she said.

The secretary also sought to assure farmers they would be protected from any ramifications over tariffs. Rollins didn't directly point to tariffs set to go into effect on Tuesday against Canada and Mexico, or the possible reciprocity.

"As you can remember, in the first term, President Trump will not forget our farmers when he's negotiating with foreign leaders," she said. "He is the ultimate deal maker, and he is going to ensure that our farmers are being traded fairly by our trading partners."

Touching briefly on tax cuts, Rollins said as President Trump and Congress work to extend the 2017 tax cuts, and perhaps expand them as well, Rollins said she will advocate for eliminating the estate tax. "I will work alongside him to repeal the death tax once and for all. One of my greatest priorities is that we want you to continue the proud legacy of family farms of second and third and fourth generation," she said.

The secretary lamented that Congress had not been able to pass a farm bill since 2023 and she vowed to help get a bill passed.

"It is inexcusable that that has yet to happen, and I understand there are a lot of factors out of the control of those who are making the decision, but there is a new game in town, my friends and we will do everything we can, and my commitment to you is that we get a farm bill done by the end of this year," she said.

Rollins also said she supports Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's agenda to "make America healthy again," but Rollins said she would make sure Kennedy doesn't impact farmers.

"I am working with Secretary Bobby Kennedy as we speak on efforts to make America healthy again, but I am certain that we will do so in a way that does not compromise you and your farms and your farming practices," she said.

Adding to the defense of pesticides, Rollins said she expects to work with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to roll back some of the regulations placed on pesticide applications under the Biden administration.

"Under the Biden administration, American ranchers and farmers faced many harmful regulations, particularly from the EPA, which has severely limited access to critical crop protection tools, which help farmers increase yields, use fewer inputs and implement conservation practices.," Rollins said. "Again, I'll be working with my good friend and longtime policy partner, Lee Zeldin, at the EPA to unleash prosperity in rural America through a massive deregulation project."

Also see, "USDA Unveils $1 Billion Plan to Combat Avian Flu and Lower Egg Prices," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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