The aid is intended to help farmers nationwide manage higher production costs and a difficult summer harvest. It comes on top of $26 billion distributed through other federal programs this year, according to the announcement.

For Oklahoma producers, the timing and severity of drought have hurt summer crops. Amy Hagerman, an Oklahoma State University associate professor of agricultural and food policy, said farmers had earlier been focused on fertilizer and seed costs but are now feeling the effect of high diesel prices.

“Most of our summer crops have been impacted,” Hagerman said, describing a lack of rain during key growing periods that reduced the yields farmers needed per acre.

The pressure also reaches livestock producers, who face higher costs as they move cattle to market, further narrowing farm-level margins, Hagerman said.

Payments will be calculated using factors including planted acreage. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to publish crop-specific payment rates in November. Farmers will be able to review acreage records and complete paperwork through an online portal or at a local Farm Service Agency office, Hagerman said.

Federal assistance can help farmers manage risk, she said, while Oklahoma State University also offers farm management and financial resources. The announcement does not yet specify how much of the $8 billion will go to Oklahoma or how payments will vary by crop.