Second Round of USDA Disaster Payments

The USDA has announced it will be issuing a second round of aid payments under the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP).

Richard Fordyce, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, says the payments are for eligible producers who have approved program applications for losses due to natural disasters in calendar years 2023 and 2024.

Speaking recently in Higginsville, Missouri, he said USDA is also extending the program application deadline to August 12^th.

“One of the main reasons for that is there is a quality component,” he said. “Some of these quality applications can get a little complicated, so we want to make sure folks have the opportunity to get their documentation, data, and their conversations with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to make sure that they are in and able to qualify.”

The agency announced that it will be increasing the payment factor to 70%, up from the initial 35%. The FSA has already provided $6.7 billion in SDRP payments to eligible producers.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

This latest development will be in addition to any further appropriations Congress chooses to pass in the next few months. Payments under the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program will put billions more dollars into the hands of farmers around the country. Much of the funds will be used to pay down operating loans. However, that will free up other funds for things like, oh let’s see, truck purchases. But one way you can help entice these farmers to act sooner is by advertising the use of CADFI. Using CADFI will allow you and the farm/ranch customers to coordinate payments with their income stream, be that weekly, monthly, quarterly or whatever.