YOUR TRUSTED AGRICULTURE SOURCE IN THE CAROLINAS SINCE 1974

BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 30: Craig Creek in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 30, 2024 near Black Mountain, North Carolina. Local residents said there were multiple deaths and missing persons in the area. At least 90 people have been killed across the southeastern U.S. due to the hurricane, according to published reports, which made landfall as a category 4 storm on Thursday. Millions are without power, according to the reports. The White House declared major disasters in North Carolina and Florida, freeing up federal emergency management money for those areas. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Now Available to Eligible Producers

Taking place now, sign up for a new USDA Disaster Assistance Program.

“Producers who experience losses covered by crop insurance or by Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program or nap can sign up for Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.”

Farm Service Agency Administrator Bill Beam says eligible crop losses due to natural disasters apply to the 2023 and/or 2024 crop seasons.

“Qualifying events include wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms freeze, including a polar vortex, smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought and related conditions.”

He adds that for producers to qualify for drought related crop losses under SDRP…

“The loss must have occurred in a county rated by the US Drought Monitor as to having a D2 for eight consecutive weeks, or a D3 Extreme Drought or greater intensity during the applicable calendar year.”

In addition to in person sign ups at local FSA offices,

“FSA is launching a streamlined pre-filled application process for eligible Crop Tree and Vine losses by leveraging the non-crop Disaster Assistance Program and RMA and identified lost data. The pre-filled applications were mailed on July the 9th.”

16 billion, with a B, dollars in assistance is available through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program. While phase one of SDRP is underway,

“Sometime this fall, we will be able to have the second stage of SDRP, and that’s going to cover shallow losses, the producers that were not covered with crop insurance, that had those losses but were not indemnified.”

More details about SDRP are available through local FSA offices.