Disaster aid is vital for many farms and ranches across the United States, but some are concerned with the timing of those payments, saying many farmers are left carrying a heavy burden.
Last December, Congress approved billions of dollars in disaster aid for farmers, but those checks did not start clearing until recently, with some producers having to wait until next month before that relief arrives. Economists at Texas A&M say crop protection tools are also failing, despite a big financial boost in the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
Some producers are left with losses exceeding $100/acre, with ARC and PLC only covering 37 percent of that. They are calling for stronger trade deals and more ethanol markets to help keep farms afloat.
Related Stories
Dr. Mark Svoboda with the National Drought Mitigation Center discusses a new global drought report and resources to help operations increase drought resilience.
Treat financial stress as a health risk—know the warning signs, normalize conversations, and connect farm families to local and national support early.
Congress has just over a month of working days left for the year. Plan for uneven USDA service until funding is restored, and closely monitor Farm Bill talks, as avoiding Permanent Law before January 1 is the single biggest risk to markets and milk prices.
Mexico’s tougher, two-step treatment and added checkpoints are catching cases before they can spread—good news for producers near the border.
Jack Daniel’s will end its Cow Feeder Program, which served around 100 livestock operations near the distillery, and redirect spent grains to its anaerobic digester.
