Relief Program Supports Drought Hit Ranchers

Oct 14, 2025
By Farms.com

USDA issues $2 billion in drought wildfire and flood aid

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $2 billion in financial assistance under the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP), designed to help livestock producers who experienced significant losses from droughts, wildfires, or floods during 2023 and 2024. The program operates under the American Relief Act of 2025.

The ELRP consists of two separate programs. The first, ELRP 2023 and 2024 Drought and Wildfire, compensates ranchers who suffered grazing losses due to drought or wildfire. The second, ELRP 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire, provides aid for increased supplemental feed costs from floods or wildfires on non-federal lands.

Each program will distribute around $1 billion, helping producers recover from feed and grazing losses. To be eligible, livestock producers must own or lease eligible livestock and demonstrate that their losses resulted from qualifying disaster events. Counties affected by droughts, floods, or wildfires are listed on the FSA’s Approved Counties Dashboard, simplifying the documentation process.

Producers in unlisted counties can still apply by providing supporting evidence such as photos, insurance records, emergency declarations, or NOAA reports. The enrollment period runs from September 15 to October 31, 2025.

Payment calculations are based on existing Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) data, ensuring faster relief. Payments cover up to 60% of monthly feed costs for wildfires and up to three months for flood losses. The combined payment limit is $125,000 per year, with exceptions allowing up to $250,000 for qualifying producers.

By leveraging existing records and streamlining documentation, the USDA ensures quick financial recovery for livestock producers facing natural disasters.

Photo Credit: usda

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.