Farmers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for part of $16 billion in aid through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP).
The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is rolling out assistance in two stages:
Stage one: Open now for farmers who already received payments through crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Prefilled applications have started arriving by mail, and signups began recently at FSA county offices. Payments will not exceed 90% of the loss, and a 35% SDRP payment factor will be applied.
Stage two: Will start this fall and cover shallow or uncovered losses, including quality losses not addressed in stage one.
Eligible disasters under SDRP include: wildfires, floods, hurricanes, derechos, drought, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze, smoke exposure, excessive moisture, and related conditions.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the USDA aims to distribute the full $30 billion in congressionally approved disaster relief by the end of this year.
Farmers who receive SDRP payments must buy federal crop insurance or NAP coverage at a 60% coverage level or higher for the next two crop years, or repay the SDRP funds with interest.
The USDA has already issued over $7.8 billion in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payments and more than $1 billion through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for grazing losses.
For details, farmers are encouraged to visit farmers.gov or contact their local FSA office.
Comments