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.
Eastern Region VP Joey Nowotny of Delaware joins us on FFA Today to talk about his new leadership role and an exciting year ahead for the National FFA Organization.
December 08, 2025 02:05 PM
·
Cattle imports from Mexico remain stalled amid the New World screwworm outbreak. At the same time, Tyson closures add pressure on Nebraska producers and markets ahead of the USDA’s upcoming Cattle on Feed Report.
December 08, 2025 01:55 PM
·
Georgia has regained its HPAI-free status after a swift response to October’s detection. Commissioner Tyler Harper urges producers to stay vigilant and maintain biosecurity.
December 08, 2025 01:29 PM
·
Credit stress is building for row-crop farms despite steady land values and slight price improvements.
December 06, 2025 03:00 PM
·
The Lexington shutdown pushes national slaughter capacity utilization nearer long-run averages, underscoring how tight cattle supplies are reshaping packer operations.
December 06, 2025 06:00 AM
·
December 05, 2025 07:30 PM
·
Reed Marcum started hosting a toy drive in 2015. Since then, he has distributed thousands of toys across his home state of Oklahoma and in Texas and Arkansas. Now serving in the Army, Reed’s family and local 4-H chapter are running the event.
December 05, 2025 04:20 PM
·
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Tax Expert Roger McEowen explains the basics of Low-Risk Credit in Farming, and how an understanding of the farm credit landscape lets producers tactfully approach debt.
December 05, 2025 02:40 PM
·
Texas livestock producers face a heightened biosecurity threat as New World screwworm detections in northern Mexico coincide with FDA approval of the first topical treatment.
December 05, 2025 11:27 AM
·
