$33.5B Disaster Aid Secured for Farmers

May 09, 2025
By Farms.com

USDA to Open $21B Weather Aid Applications Soon

Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, recently secured a commitment from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to prioritize staffing and maintaining Farm Service Agency (FSA) field offices.

This move aims to ensure frontline support for farmers and ranchers across the nation. Hoeven emphasized the significance of the $33.5 billion in agriculture disaster aid he secured at the end of the year, which provides crucial support as Congress works on improving crop insurance and updating reference prices in the next farm bill.

Hoeven expressed gratitude to Secretary Rollins for the timely distribution of $10 billion in market-based agriculture disaster assistance and continues to collaborate with her on advancing the $21 billion in weather-related assistance.

Secretary Rollins announced that the USDA’s application process for the weather-based agricultural aid will commence in the coming weeks.

“We have to make sure we’re getting it done for our farmers and our ranchers every single day. We want to work together to find savings, but we have to know that we’re still going to deliver the service that keeps our family farms and ranches going, to the benefit of every single American,” said Hoeven. “We appreciate Secretary Rollins making it a priority to fully-staff and keep open FSA offices. These front-line FSA officers are the ones who work directly with our farmers and ranchers and help provide the service they deserve.”

Hoeven highlighted the $33.5 billion secured to assist producers with market, price, and weather challenges. Hoeven noted that North Dakota producers have already received about half a billion dollars from the $10 billion market-based aid.

Hoeven looks forward to continuing efforts with the USDA to implement the $21 billion weather-based assistance, with the application process starting soon.

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.