Rural Money: Navigating the Status of Disaster Aid, USDA’s Reopening of the Farm Service Agency

Farm CPA Paul Neiffer discusses the status of USDA disaster aid, including delays to Stage 2 of the SDRP program, and what farmers should watch for as lawmakers negotiate an end to the government shutdown.

KENNEWICK, Wash. (RFD-TV) — As the government shutdown continues, many farmers are still waiting for updates on key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs — including Stage 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program. The delays have left producers uncertain about payment timelines and eligibility details.

Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to help break down what farmers can expect once USDA operations resume.

In his interview with RFD-TV News, Neiffer discussed how Stage 2 is structured to provide additional relief to those impacted by natural disasters, whether payments could increase beyond the 35 percent provided under Stage 1, and when producers might see those funds distributed.

Neiffer also addressed the USDA’s decision to temporarily reopen Farm Service Agency offices during the shutdown, explaining what services will be available and how farmers can prepare documentation to avoid further delays once full operations resume.

Related Stories
University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) representative Dr. Dirac Twidwell joins us with the latest on woody encroachment conservation efforts in the Great Plains.
Poison Hemlock is an invasive weed in many parts of the U.S., but is currently spreading in Ohio. Ingesting the plant or its seeds is deadly to humans and livestock.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

FFA education inspires Chelsey Keiser to become the first female horse jockey.
Ryan Dunsbergen, soybean product manager for Golden Harvest, shares an overview of their new soybean seed lineup and what growers can expect in 2026.
Bioethanol is becoming a global standard. For growers, that boom comes as drops in Mississippi River levels and in soybean demand occur in tandem, leaving barge space for corn and wheat.
The government shutdown has touched nearly every sector of the ag industry since it began, and now impacts are spilling over into dairy.
With China halting U.S. soybean purchases and talks tied to broader strategic issues, growers face renewed export uncertainty.
Talks highlight the widening role of agriculture in U.S.–India trade policy, though neither side appears ready for major concessions before tariff issues and oil imports are resolved.