USDA to Provide $1 Billion for Flood and Wildfire Livestock Losses
USDA will provide $1B to livestock producers impacted by 2023–24 floods and wildfires. Applications open Sept. 15 and close Oct. 31, 2025.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide about $1 billion in disaster recovery benefits to livestock producers affected by flooding and wildfires in 2023 and 2024.
The assistance will be distributed through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW). Eligible producers can begin applying Sept. 15, with the sign-up period closing Oct. 31.
“We are providing continued support for livestock producers whose livelihoods and way of life have been disrupted by catastrophic floods, wildfires and poor forage conditions in 2023 and 2024,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. “Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is standing shoulder to shoulder with America’s farmers and ranchers, delivering the resources they need to stay in business, feed their families and keep our food supply strong.”
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has identified counties with qualifying disaster events where producers do not need to provide supporting documentation. In counties not on the list, producers can still apply but must show evidence that a qualifying flood or wildfire occurred where livestock were located.
Covered livestock under ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW include weaned beef cattle, dairy cattle, beefalo, buffalo, bison, alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer and sheep. Assistance is limited to non-federally managed land and only for producers who did not already receive support under previous drought and wildfire programs.
Payments may cover up to 60% of one month of calculated feed costs for qualifying wildfires, or up to three months for qualifying floods. ELRP 2023 and 2024 drought and wildfire assistance and ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW share a combined payment cap of $125,000 per program year, with some exceptions allowing up to $250,000.
Producers must apply by Oct. 31 through their local FSA office. More details, including eligible counties and program updates, are available at fsa.usda.gov/elrp.
