USDA Launches Stage Two of $16 Billion Disaster Relief for Farmers
- Media Logic Radio
- Nov 18
- 2 min read
By Natalina Sents Bausch Updated on November 17, 2025
After weeks of anticipation, USDA announced the details of stage 2 of $16 billion in total Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) assistance on Monday. This is in addition to more than $9.3 billion in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program payments for row crop farmers and $705 million in Emergency Livestock Relief Program payments for ranchers this year.
Stage One
Stage one details were first announced in July 2025. To date, more than $5.7 billion in stage one payments have been made. The largest proportion of payments have been distributed to corn and soybean producers.
The enrollment period for stage one is open and closes April 30, 2026.
Stage Two
“Stage 2 of SDRP covers eligible crop, tree, bush, and vine losses that were not covered under Stage 1 program provisions, including non-indemnified (shallow loss), uncovered, and quality losses,” explained a USDA press release.
Livestock, timber, and crops for grazing are not eligible.
The enrollment period for stage two opens Nov. 24, 2025, and closes April 30, 2026.
Block grants are being established by the Farm Service Administration for Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, and Massachusetts that will cover crop losses. Therefore, producers with losses in these states will not be eligible for SDRP program payments.
More details for both stages are available at fsa.usda.gov/sdrp.
Other Loss Programs
“The Milk Loss Program provides up to $1.65 million in payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market because of a qualifying natural disaster event in 2023 and/or 2024,” said a USDA press release.
Producers who suffered losses of eligible harvested commodities while stored in on-farm structures in 2023 and/or 2024 due to a qualifying natural disaster event may be eligible for assistance through the On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program, which provides for up to $5 million to impacted producers.
The enrollment period to apply for milk and on-farm stored commodity losses is Nov. 24, 2025–Jan. 23, 2026. Information and fact sheets for both programs are available online at fsa.usda.gov/mlp and fsa.usda.gov/ofsclp.
