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Natural resources

USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Agricultural Producers in Colorado Impacted by Wildfire

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Agricultural operations in Colorado have been significantly impacted by recent wildfires, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) providing technical and financial assistance to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events. The USDA has a suite of programs to support farmers and ranchers as they recover from disasters, including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP).

Key Takeaways:

  • The USDA has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers in Colorado recover from wildfires, including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP).
  • Producers who experience livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality or sell injured livestock at a reduced price may be eligible for the LIP, with a deadline to submit a notice of loss to the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) on March 2, 2026, for 2025 calendar year losses.
  • The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides eligible producers with compensation for feed and grazing losses, with a deadline to complete a notice of loss and application for payment to the local FSA office on March 2, 2026, for 2025 calendar year losses.
  • The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) provides cost-share assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, or vines, with a deadline to file a program application within 90 days of the disaster event or when the loss of the trees becomes apparent.
  • FSA offers direct and guaranteed farm loans, including operating and emergency farm loans, to producers unable to secure commercial financing, with an option to refinance farm-related debts and other needs.
  • FSA's Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) can assist landowners with financial and technical assistance to remove debris from farmland, including woody material, sand, rock, and materials from collapsed hoop houses/high tunnels on cropland or pastureland.
  • NRCS's Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program assists local government sponsors with the cost of addressing watershed impairments or hazards such as debris removal and streambank stabilization.

Statistics:

  • The USDA provides technical and financial assistance to help farmers and livestock producers recover from adverse weather events, with a focus on providing relief to those impacted by wildfires.
  • The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) has a deadline to submit a notice of loss to the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) on March 2, 2026, for 2025 calendar year losses.
  • The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides compensation for feed and grazing losses, with a deadline to complete a notice of loss and application for payment to the local FSA office on March 2, 2026, for 2025 calendar year losses.
  • FSA's Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) can assist landowners with financial and technical assistance to remove debris from farmland, with a focus on providing relief to those impacted by wildfires.

Sources:

  • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, "USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Agricultural Producers in Colorado Impacted by Wildfire" August 28, 2025.
  • USDA Farm Service Agency, "Farm Service Agency" website.

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