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Floods

USDA Announces Disaster Recovery Assistance for Livestock Producers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Secretary Brooke L. Rollins has announced the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) to provide disaster recovery assistance to eligible livestock producers. The program aims to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to qualifying floods or wildfires in calendar years 2023 and 2024. Sign-up for the program begins on September 15, and producers have until October 31, 2025, to apply for assistance.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW program is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in recovery benefits to eligible livestock producers.
  • Producers in eligible counties do not need to submit supporting documentation for floods or wildfires, but those in non-eligible counties must provide documentation to demonstrate a qualifying disaster event.
  • Acceptable documentation includes photographs, insurance documents, emergency declaration reports, and news articles.
  • Covered livestock criteria for ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW include weaned beef cattle, dairy cattle, and other specific animals.
  • Producers can receive up to 60% of one month of calculated feed costs for a qualifying wildfire or three months for a qualifying flood, with a combined payment limit of $125,000 for each program year.
  • Producers who have already received the maximum payment amount from ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire are not eligible to receive an additional payment under ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW.
  • Eligible producers can submit form FSA-510 to be considered for an increased payment limit of $250,000.

Statistics:

  • Estimated $1 billion in recovery benefits for eligible livestock producers.
  • Sign-up begins on September 15 and ends by October 31, 2025.
  • Total of 10 counts of eligible counties.
  • Eligible livestock includes weaned beef cattle, dairy cattle, beefalo, buffalo, bison, alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, and sheep.
  • Payment calculation allows up to 60% of one month of calculated feed costs for a qualifying wildfire or three months for a qualifying flood.
  • Combined payment limit of $125,000 for each program year.

Sources:

  • USDA News Release (Undated)
  • FSA.usda.gov (Website)
  • FSA county committee (Reference)
  • FSA-510 Form (Form reference)
  • American Relief Act, 2025 (Act reference)

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