AGDAILY Bites
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The USDA has started issuing disaster relief payments to agricultural producers impacted by recent natural disasters.
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Livestock producers will receive assistance for forage losses from last year’s drought and wildfires.
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The NRCS is providing both immediate support for livestock and soil conservation and longer-term aid for infrastructure restoration.
AGDAILY Discussion
For those in agriculture, the costs from recent hurricanes and wildfires have become overwhelming. This past year has seen extensive damage across southeastern counties, where hurricanes like Milton, Debby, and Helene ravaged croplands and infrastructure. Many are struggling with delayed support as they navigate the aftermath, often waiting weeks or months to receive the assistance necessary to rebuild.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has started issuing disaster relief payments to agricultural producers impacted by recent natural disasters, offering $143 million in crop insurance indemnities to Florida producers affected by Hurricane Milton and more than $92 million to livestock producers nationwide who faced steep supplemental feed costs due to the 2022 drought and wildfires. However, many producers are feeling the support has been slow to reach them, as they continue to face the steep costs and long recovery ahead.
In Florida, farmers hit by Hurricane Milton will receive payments if they held federal crop insurance through the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index endorsement and the Tropical Storm option. These payments are part of the USDA’s larger response to help Milton-affected producers.
Livestock producers across the U.S., meanwhile, will receive assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for forage losses from last year’s drought and wildfires. This distribution marks the second and final round of ELRP payments using remaining funds, a lifeline for many who have struggled to feed and maintain their herds due to the high cost of supplemental feed.
“Florida farmers, livestock producers, and forest landowners have been hit hard by hurricanes this year, and we’re continuing our efforts to help producers recover following hurricanes like Milton,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We’ve used a number of flexibilities following hurricanes Debby and Helene, and we’re extending those to producers impacted by Hurricane Milton and future named storms. Additionally, today’s payments for America’s livestock producers serve as another example of how we’re leveraging every available resource to help as many people as possible on the road to recovery.”
The HIP-WI program’s payment process has also been expedited. Eligible producers in Florida will receive their payments through Approved Insurance Providers within the next 30 days, totaling over $143 million to address losses from Hurricane Milton. Since HIP-WI’s introduction in 2020, it has provided more than $776 million in relief, with $340 million distributed specifically to Florida producers.
Beyond HIP-WI, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service have activated multiple programs to further aid recovery. The FSA’s Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program are now open for extended signup through June 2025, offering cost-sharing assistance for essential repairs, forest recovery, and debris removal. Additionally, FSA’s extended low-interest emergency loans aim to help eligible producers replace necessary property and cover living expenses or farm debts that may have grown unmanageable amid the recent crises.
NRCS has also mobilized resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program, providing both immediate support for livestock and soil conservation and longer-term aid for infrastructure restoration. Many producers have voiced a growing need for faster access to resources like these, especially as they face the immense financial burdens of post-disaster recovery.
Contact your local FSA county office or your crop insurance agent to report all crop, livestock and farm infrastructure damages and losses. Producers can also contact the FSA call center at 877-508-8364.
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