New USDA extension gives producers more time to claim relief for disaster losses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency has extended the deadline for livestock producers seeking support through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire. Producers now have until November 21, 2025, to apply. This program is expected to deliver nearly $1 billion in benefits to support farmers who faced major losses following floods and wildfires in 2023 and 2024.
The extension comes after temporary service center closures during the government shutdown. USDA leaders explained that many livestock and dairy producers were unable to submit their documents during that period. With county offices now open full-time, the agency aims to give every producer a fair chance to access recovery support. According to FSA Administrator Bill Beam, the goal is to ensure that farmers and ranchers continue to rely on essential safety-net services.
“We recognize, while FSA Service Centers were temporarily closed due to the government shutdown, livestock and dairy producers may not have had an opportunity to submit their applications for flood and wildfire recovery assistance,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “As directed by Secretary Rollins, FSA county offices are now open and staffed five days a week to provide much needed economic support through essential safety-net and disaster assistance programs like the Emergency Livestock Relief Program. We are fully committed to ensuring farmers and ranchers once again have access to core FSA services and programs.”
To simplify the process, USDA has identified eligible counties that experienced qualifying floods or wildfires. Producers in these counties do not need to provide extra proof of the disaster event. For livestock losses in other counties, applicants may still qualify but must provide supporting evidence such as photos, insurance papers, news reports, emergency declarations, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration storm data.
Livestock eligibility follows criteria similar to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Covered animals include beef and dairy cattle, bison, buffalo, alpacas, llamas, sheep, goats, deer, elk, equine, emus, ostriches, and reindeer. Producers may qualify for assistance in one or both program years and may claim support for multiple disaster events. However, payments cannot exceed three months of assistance per producer and location.
For payment calculations, eligible producers can receive up to 60% of one month of feed costs for wildfire losses or three months for flood losses, based on Livestock Forage Disaster Program formulas. The annual payment limit is $125,000, though producers may request an increase to $250,000 by submitting Form FSA-510 if eligible.
The extended deadline gives producers more time to gather documents, confirm eligibility, and secure the financial relief they need to restore their operations after significant natural disasters.
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