USDA Hurricane Relief Starts Kicking In

The USDA is stepping in this week to support farmers and livestock producers affected by natural disasters. Over $143 million in crop insurance payments is headed to Florida producers impacted by Hurricane Milton, while another $92 million will go to livestock producers across the country. These funds are aimed at offsetting increased feed costs due to forage losses from droughts and wildfires in 2022.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack shared that Florida’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners have faced tough challenges from this year’s hurricanes, with the USDA working hard to support them as they recover from storms like Milton. He added that the payments going to livestock producers underscore the USDA’s commitment to utilizing all available resources to assist as many in the agricultural sector as possible on the road to recovery.

Farmers with federal crop insurance policies covering hurricane impacts—such as the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index endorsement and the Tropical Storm Option—can expect payments from their insurance providers within the next month.