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Flood relief

USDA Announces $1 Billion in Disaster Recovery Assistance for Livestock Producers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a new disaster recovery assistance program for livestock producers impacted by floods and wildfires in 2023 and 2024. The program, known as the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW), will provide $1 billion to help producers offset rising supplemental feed costs caused by natural disasters. Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) has been a long-time advocate for relief for Central Valley producers and has introduced legislation to provide additional aid to those impacted by natural disasters.

Key Takeaways:

  • The USDA has announced a new disaster recovery assistance program, the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW), which will provide $1 billion to help livestock producers offset rising supplemental feed costs caused by floods and wildfires.
  • The program is designed to help producers affected by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024, including those in California's Central Valley who were impacted by the flooding of Tulare Lake.
  • Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) has been a long-time advocate for relief for Central Valley producers and has introduced legislation to provide additional aid to those impacted by natural disasters.
  • The USDA's announcement is a major step forward in providing relief to farmers and dairymen affected by the disasters.
  • The Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) will be expanded to help address losses and move producers closer to making them whole.
  • Congressman Valadao has introduced the Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which would provide an additional $14 billion to USDA to aid producers impacted by natural disasters in 2023.
  • Congressman Valadao has also introduced the Emergency Assistance for Dairy Producers Act, which aimed to ensure dairy producers affected by the historic flooding of Tulare Lake in 2023 could qualify for Commodity Credit Corporation emergency assistance funds.

Statistics:

  • $1 billion: The amount of disaster recovery assistance that the USDA will provide to livestock producers through the ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW program.
  • 2023 and 2024: The years in which the floods and wildfires that will be addressed by the ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW program occurred.
  • Central Valley: The region in California that is expected to benefit from the USDA's announcement, with Congressman Valadao stating that the flooding of Tulare Lake in 2023 was devastating for the area.
  • $14 billion: The additional aid that Congressman Valadao's Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act would provide to USDA to aid producers impacted by natural disasters in 2023.

Sources:

  • "USDA Announces Disaster Recovery Assistance for Livestock Producers" (no date)
  • Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) press release
  • Visit the USDA website to learn more

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