Pulse Crops Program
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. 119-21) authorizes nonrecourse marketing assistance loans (MALs) and loan deficiency payments (LDPs) for the 2026 through 2031 pulse crops of dry peas, lentils, large chickpeas, and small chickpeas.
MALs and LDPs are administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
About the Program
Pulse MALs can be redeemed by repayment or settled with the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) upon maturity.
Under certain circumstances, producers may repay at less than the loan rate (principal) plus accrued interest and other charges or redeem with a commodity certificate, as applicable.
Alternatively, LDP provisions specify that in lieu of securing a MAL, producers may elect to receive an LDP. An LDP is the difference the producer would have received if a loan was repaid at the lower market price, a direct benefit that does not need to be repaid.
Contact your local USDA Service center to learn more about pulse MAL and LDP provisions before you lose beneficial interest, or control and title, in the crop.
Final Loan /LDP Availability Date for Pulse Crops
The final pulse crop loan/LDP availability date is May 31 of the calendar year after the calendar year the pulse crop is harvested.
Loan Rates
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. 119-21) set national loan rates, which can be found here.
Adjusted Gross Income
For the 2026 through 2031 crop years, producers or legal entities whose average adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds $900,000, are not eligible for marketing loan gains and LDP payments; but are eligible for MALs that must be repaid at principal plus interest exchanged with a commodity certificate if the lower alternative repayment rate is below the established loan rate.
Payment Limitations
LDPs and marketing loan gains available for crop years 2026 through 2031 are not subject to payment limitation, cash rent tenant, or actively engaged in farming provisions.
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