USDA to Provide $1 Billion to Flood and Wildfire-Impacted Livestock Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has committed approximately $1 billion in disaster recovery benefits for livestock producers affected by floods and wildfires in 2023 and 2024. The funding will be distributed through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) to help offset increased supplemental feed costsbrought on by these catastrophic events.
Application Period
Producers may apply beginning September 15, 2025, with a deadline of October 31, 2025.
Eligibility
The program is open to producers with covered livestock, including:
Beef and dairy cattle
Beefalo, buffalo, and bison
Alpacas, llamas, sheep, and goats
Cervids (deer, elk, reindeer)
Equine
Ratites (emus, ostriches)
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has identified counties with qualifying disaster events, where producers will not need to provide additional documentation. For counties not pre-approved, producers may still apply but must supply evidence that a flood or wildfire directly impacted their operation.
Payment Details
Wildfire losses: up to 60% of one month’s calculated feed costs
Flood losses: up to three months of feed costs
Payment limits: $125,000 per program year, with potential exceptions up to $250,000 for eligible producers (via form FSA-510).
Producers who already reached the maximum limit under the drought/wildfire program earlier in 2025 will not receive additional funds under this initiative.
Additional Resources
The USDA continues to streamline access to disaster recovery programs under the American Relief Act of 2025. Producers can track program updates on the Supplemental Disaster Assistance page at fsa.usda.gov or by contacting their local FSA office.
