USDA Rolls Out Supplemental Disaster Relief Program

USDA is telling farmers they can now sign up for a new disaster assistance program.

“Producers who experience losses covered by crop insurance or by noninsured crop disaster assistance program or NAP can sign up for Supplemental Disaster Relief Program." said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. He added eligible crop losses due to natural disasters applied to the 2023 and 2024 crop seasons.

On top of in person signups at local FSA offices pre filled applications are being mailed to producers with eligible crop tree and vine losses.  Beam noted while Phase I of SDRP is underway.

“Sometime this fall, we will be able to have the second stage of SDRP and that's going to cover the shallow losses the producers that were not covered with crop insurance that had those losses but were not identified.” 

So, what kind of Northwest disasters are covered under this new program? 

• Wildfires
• Floods
• Excessive heat
• Winter storms
• Freeze
• Smoke exposure
• Drought 

To qualify for drought-related losses, the loss must have occurred in a county having a D2, Severe Drought, for eight consecutive weeks, or a D3, Extreme Drought, or greater intensity during the applicable calendar year.  For more details, or to have your questions answered, visit your local FSA office.

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