NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV)— Farmers and ranchers hit by wildfires and floods can now apply for relief through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) will help cover extra feed costs associated with these types of natural disasters. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Danny Munch explained how this differs from previous USDA programs.
“ELRP, the flood and wildlife version, is a USDA/Farm Service Agency program that helps livestock farmers and ranchers cover part of the extra feed costs caused by qualifying wildfires on non-federal lands or flooding from 2023 or 2024,” Munch explained. “Unlike the drought version that was announced earlier this year and paid automatically off of livestock forage program payments, this one requires a direct application from farmers to FSA. Payments are going to be based on USDA standard monthly feed costs, and that’ll be 60% of three months of feed for flooding, or 60% of one month of feed for wildfires.”
The USDA has made nearly a billion dollars available to producers through the ELRP program.
“This is the remaining balance back from Congress’s $2 billion livestock directive from the American Relief Act of 2025,” Munch said. “If estimated demands that USDA receives exceed available funds, USDA is going to apply a national payment factor at the end of the calculations. So those final payments might be lower than the base calculation. There are payment limits of $125,000 per program year, or $250,000 if more than 75% of your adjusted gross income is from farming.”
If you think you are eligible for the ELRP program, Munch suggested reaching out to your local FSA office.
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026. Dr. Derrell Peel, with Oklahoma State University, joined us to break down cattle-on-feed numbers and provide his broader market outlook.
January 23, 2026 04:40 PM
·
USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.
January 23, 2026 03:39 PM
·
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joined us to break down the recent Fifth Circuit Court decision overturning a prior Tax Court decision on self-employment tax for limited partners, the ruling’s impact on farmers, and potential next steps in Congress.
January 23, 2026 02:00 PM
·
Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Director Ryan Norris talks energy infrastructure, regulatory reform, and the role of critical minerals in supporting rural America.
January 23, 2026 01:54 PM
·
Pennsylvania Farm Show scholarship recipient Elizabeth Dice discusses her award, her background in farming, and her path forward in the agriculture industry.
January 23, 2026 01:48 PM
·
Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition discusses supply chain challenges facing agriculture as snow, sleet and ice threaten most of the Eastern U.S.
January 23, 2026 01:36 PM
·
Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales.
January 23, 2026 01:12 PM
·
Nearly everyone in the South Texas ag community appears extremely worried about the potential of a New World screwworm epidemic, according to a local veterinarian. RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports.
January 23, 2026 11:56 AM
·
Large-scale land purchases signal rising competition for ranchland, reinforcing its value while reshaping long-term access and control in rural agriculture.
January 23, 2026 07:00 AM
·
