The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it will distribute up to $1.3 billion in a second round of payments under the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, building on the nearly $900 million already paid out during the program’s initial round.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins emphasized that the new round of assistance reflects the federal government’s continued commitment to helping specialty crop producers handle increasing costs and marketing challenges. “We’re thankful for the work these producers do to maintain the most abundant and safest food supply for our families and the world.”
What Is the Masc Program?
Created in December 2024 and expanded in January 2025 to $2.65 billion, MASC is designed to help growers of specialty crops manage higher marketing costs associated with perishability, specialized handling and transportation, labor, and packaging. The program targets specialty crops such as fruits, tree nuts, and culinary and medicinal herbs, but also includes pulse crops, which of course is of interest to Montana farmers. Grain, oilseed, forage, and livestock products are excluded.
Who’s Eligible?
To qualify, producers must have commercially marketed eligible crops and meet adjusted gross income (AGI) thresholds of less than $900,000—unless 75% or more of that income is from agriculture. They must also comply with conservation provisions and have no controlled substance violations. New producers, including those who only recently began cultivating specialty crops, may also be eligible and should file expected 2025 sales data.
Farmers should work with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office using Form FSA-1140 and, if applicable, supporting forms like FSA-1141 for new producers.
How Payments Are Calculated
Payments are based on total reported sales from eligible specialty crops. Sales are grouped into tiers, and payment percentages for each range will be determined after the application period ends. If demand exceeds available funds, payments may be prorated.
A detailed example in the USDA MASC factsheet shows how sales are tiered and payment factors applied proportionally. The total payout to a grower depends on which sales ranges they fall into and the payment factor assigned to each.
Why This Matters to Montana Growers
While Montana is best known for cereal grains, the state also leads the nation in production of field peas and ranks high for lentils and chickpeas—all of which are considered specialty crops under MASC. These additional payments help offset the cost of moving fragile, high-quality pulse crops to markets across the country and abroad.
Montana’s dry edible pea and lentil growers have faced especially high transportation costs due to their long distances from market centers. MASC’s focus on these logistical burdens—along with its inclusion of labor and packaging costs—makes it a timely and welcome support mechanism for growers across the state.
The Bottom Line
With this second round of MASC payments, USDA is reaffirming its commitment to specialty crop producers during a time of rising costs and tightening margins. For Montana farmers producing dry peas, lentils, and other specialty crops, this funding can make a tangible difference in their ability to reach markets and stay competitive.
▶ To learn more about federal support programs like MASC and how they impact Montana pulse growers, follow the Montana Pulse Crop Committee blog for the latest updates.
