WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened sign-ups for Stage 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, giving farmers a new pathway to recover shallow losses from extreme weather in 2023 and 2024. The program—open through April 30, 2026—covers revenue, quality, or production losses that were not indemnified under crop insurance. It expands the assistance begun under Stage 1 earlier this year.
Under Stage 2, USDA will use existing crop insurance and Farm Service Agency data to pre-fill applications, with producers verifying totals and submitting forms at county offices. Stage 2 also includes payments for quality loss, applying the same quality-loss percentages used in Stage 1 for forage nutrition reductions or value declines at sale. Qualifying disasters include drought, excessive moisture, hurricanes, freeze, derechos, wildfire, and other major weather events.
Check Out Farm CPA Paul Neiffer Calculator for Stage 2
Producers will receive payments calculated from the difference between expected and actual value, crop insurance coverage, premiums, and an SDRP factor tied to their base policy. Payments are currently subject to a 35 percent factor, though USDA expects this rate to rise after total claims become clearer. Payment limits apply, with higher caps available to producers who derive at least 75% of their income from farming.
Looking ahead, USDA emphasizes that recipients must purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage at 60 percent or higher for the next two crop years.
Strong demand supports sweet potatoes, but grading challenges and rising costs weigh on returns for Southeastern growers.
December 02, 2025 06:17 AM
·
The Cotton-4 are pushing hard for new value chain investments. Still, many U.S. cotton producers face unsustainable losses, and weakened regional textile capacity threatens the survival of the Carolina “dirt-to-shirt” supply chain.
December 01, 2025 05:03 PM
·
Late harvest and tight supplies shape crop progress and agribusiness this week. Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Dec. 1, 2025.
December 01, 2025 04:22 PM
·
Tryston Beyrer, Crop Nutrition Lead at The Mosaic Company, examines planning trends as producers weigh corn and soybean plantings for 2026.
December 01, 2025 03:27 PM
·
Brooks York with AgriSompo joins us to offer an update on what agents are prioritizing as the calendar year winds down.
December 01, 2025 03:06 PM
·
The newly elected Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA), Dale Parker, joins us on-set to share his vision for his state’s cattle industry.
December 01, 2025 02:47 PM
·
A leading Oklahoma veterinarian explains common symptoms of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) and warns owners to remain vigilant because it can spread quickly among horses.
December 01, 2025 02:16 PM
·
National FFA President Trey Myers joins Monday’s FFA Today to share his hopes and goals for the 2025-2026 year as he steps into this opportunity to lead and serve the next generation of agriculture.
December 01, 2025 01:00 PM
·
Despite the need for swift action, many ag lawmakers and industry groups argue that farm aid alone will likely not be sufficient to help farmers without improved trade relations with China.
December 01, 2025 12:21 PM
·
