USDA Releases Second Stage of Disaster Aid for Farmers
USDA launches Stage Two disaster aid and opens milk and stored crop loss programs to support farmers recovering from 2023–24 natural disasters.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is moving forward with the second stage of federal crop disaster assistance, announcing billions in new support for producers recovering from natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. The update comes as USDA continues to distribute funding through several existing programs aimed at stabilizing farm operations affected by storms, drought and other severe weather.
“President Trump continues to put farmers first and provide relief to American farmers reeling from the devastating natural disasters that struck across the United States in 2023 and 2024. The continued financial success of our farming and ranching operations is a national security priority,” said Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. “USDA is doing whatever it takes to make good on President Trump’s promise to expedite disaster recovery assistance to U.S. farmers and ranchers, ensuring viability, prosperity, and longevity for these men and women who dedicate their entire lives to our nation’s food, fiber and fuel production. The majority of payments from the first stage are already in the hands of producers, helping them prepare for and invest in the next crop year.”
According to the USDA, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering more than $16 billion in Congressionally approved Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) assistance. This follows more than $9.3 billion provided through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program and more than $705 million distributed through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program.
Stage Two of SDRP covers eligible crop, tree, bush and vine losses not addressed under Stage One, including shallow losses, uncovered losses and quality losses. Producers can review program requirements and fact sheets at fsa.usda.gov/sdrp.
Stage One, announced in July, remains open to producers who received indemnities through crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for qualifying 2023 and 2024 events. FSA county offices will begin accepting Stage Two applications on November 24, 2025, with the deadline for both stages set for April 30, 2026. Producers in Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine and Massachusetts are not eligible for SDRP payments, as USDA is establishing block grants with those states to address local crop losses.
USDA reports that since March 2025, more than $16 billion in supplemental disaster assistance has been delivered under the American Relief Act, including $9.3 billion through ECAP, over $1 billion through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program and more than $5.7 billion already provided through SDRP Stage One.
Two additional assistance programs will also open enrollment on November 24, 2025, offering support for specific 2023 and 2024 losses.
The Milk Loss Program provides up to $1.65 million for dairy operations that dumped milk or removed it from the commercial market due to qualifying natural disasters.
Producers who lost eligible harvested commodities stored on-farm due to qualifying disasters may apply for support through the On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program, which provides up to $5 million.
Enrollment for both programs runs through January 23, 2026. More information is available at fsa.usda.gov/mlp and fsa.usda.gov/ofsclp.
For many U.S. farmers, these programs collectively represent the federal government’s primary disaster recovery tools as they work to rebuild production capacity and prepare for the next crop year.
