USDA pays final $306M to farmers hit by 2020-2021 disasters

Feb 07, 2024

By Farms.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced final Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments totaling $306 million to eligible farmers impacted by natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. These payments are intended to help offset financial losses incurred by these producers and their operations.

Highlights:

Additional payments: This disbursement adds to the initial $7.5 billion distributed through ERP Phase One in 2022.
Eligible recipients: Farmers who received ERP Phase One payments based on crop insurance indemnities are eligible for an additional 3.5% payout, increasing their overall payment factor to 78.5%.
Non-insured crops: Producers who received payments for non-insured crops through the NAP program will not receive further assistance for 2020-2021 losses.
Separate program: A distinct ERP program (ERP 2022) is currently accepting applications for losses related to 2022 natural disasters.

Background:

The $10 billion ERP program was established by the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act of 2021.
The Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023 provided additional funding for ERP 2022.

USDA broader efforts:

The Biden-Harris administration is committed to supporting farmers and strengthening the food system.
Initiatives include promoting local food production, ensuring fair markets, expanding access to healthy food, and investing in rural infrastructure and clean energy.

Video: The $1.7 Billion Network Behind Canada's Seed Retail Future

Canadian agriculture has changed dramatically over the past 50 years, and so has the business of bringing new crop varieties to farmers. But as public plant breeding faces new pressures, private investment grows and farmers demand more from their genetics, what will the next 50 years look like?

In this special Seed World Canada Retail Strategy Webinar, we celebrate SeCan's 50th anniversary by looking beyond its history to explore the future of Canadian seed retail, plant breeding and variety commercialization.

Join Seed World Canada Senior Editor Marc Zienkiewicz and five industry experts as they discuss how independent seed businesses are adapting to a changing marketplace, the importance of partnerships between breeders and retailers, and what it will take to keep innovative crop genetics flowing into Canadian farmers' fields.