Emergency Livestock Aid Out For Ranchers Hit by Weather

Last week, USDA announced the final Emergency Livestock Relief Program, expanding payments to livestock producers disrupted by catastrophic drought, flooding and wildfires in 2023 and 2024.

Department of Ag officials said the plan aims to help ranchers recover losses and continue operations after extreme weather events strained forage supplies and forced herd reductions.

USDA said the relief comes as cattle and beef markets continue to show volatility, with the national herd shrinking and prices elevated, reflecting persistent supply pressures.  The relief program will provide one-time payments to eligible operations, with details on qualifying losses and application timelines expected soon.

“Livestock operations across the country were disrupted in 2023 and 2024 by catastrophic floods, drought, wildfires, and poor forage conditions," Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said during Friday's announcement.  "President Trump has ensured our farmers, ranchers, and producers have the tools and assistance necessary to continue their operations after they were impacted at no fault of their own. If the men and women who feed America cannot continue their operations, then our national security is at risk.  We are working every day to ensure America’s food supply remains safe, stable, and secure.  Due to the program demand for drought and wildfire assistance, initial payments were factored to ensure total program payments did not exceed available funding.  Additional funds remain so we are delivering on our Farmers First commitment to livestock producers and issuing a second payment in addition to making a full payment, with no factor, to eligible producers who applied for flood and wildfire recovery assistance.”

At the direction of Congress, The American Relief Act, 2025, provides for $2 billion in emergency relief payments to livestock producers suffering losses due to drought, wildfires, or flooding in calendar years 2023 and 2024.

ELRP Drought and Wildfire (Wildfire Losses on Federally Managed Lands)

Livestock producers previously received an initial payment for drought and wildfire assistance that was factored by 35% to ensure payments did not exceed available funding.

Now, FSA has issued an automatic second payment to eligible producers who received an initial payment for drought and wildfire losses. The second payment is equal to 8.2% of the eligible producer’s 2023 or 2024 Livestock Forage Disaster program gross calculated payment, making the final payment factor 43.2% and total assistance provided more than $1.289 billion.

ELRP Flood and Wildfire (Wildfire Losses on Non-Federally Managed Lands)

After assessing ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW applications, FSA determined that a payment factor is not needed. Producers with approved ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW applications are receiving 100% of their calculated payment in a single lump sum, totaling $604 million in recovery assistance.

Payment Limit

ELRP 2023 and 2024 and ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW have a combined payment limit of $125,000 for each program year. Producers who already received the maximum payment amount from ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire losses will not be eligible to receive an additional payment. Eligible producers may submit form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs, by November 2nd to be considered for an increased payment limit of $250,000.

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