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.

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To see how the Fendt setup compares, we also ran it side-by-side with our own planting rig: a Case IH 470 Quadtrac pulling our Case IH 1240 planter. It’s a great chance to compare two different planting setups and see how they perform in the field.

By the end of the video, we officially finish soybean planting for 2026! While planting season may be wrapped up, there’s still plenty of farming content coming your way, so stay tuned for future videos.

My name is Michael Wendling, and I am proud to be a 6th-generation farmer carrying forward a family legacy that began in 1879 here in East Central Illinois.

Today, our operation focuses on raising food-grade corn for Frito-Lay and also soybeans. While the tools and technology have evolved, our core values remain the same: hard work, integrity, and a deep respect for the land we steward. Thank you for following along and supporting the journey.