USDA Launches $16 Billion Agricultural Disaster Relief Program

On July 9 (U.S. time), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers who suffered crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for subsidies through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will implement the program in two phases:

• Phase 1: It targets producers who have received compensation from crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Applicants can go to local offices to apply in person starting from July 10.
• Phase 2: It will be officially launched this autumn, covering other uncompensated shallow losses, etc.
  
• The total funding of the program is $16 billion, which is part of the $30 billion in disaster assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture this year. Previously, the USDA has provided more than $8.8 billion in subsidies to disaster-stricken producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program.