WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is releasing $1 billion in emergency payments to livestock producers impacted by drought or wildfires through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program.
Announced Thursday by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the payments are part of a broader federal aid package authorized by the American Relief Act. The program is designed to support ranchers who have experienced grazing losses due to natural disasters and leverages existing data from the USDA’s Livestock Forage Disaster Program to streamline distribution.
The initial payments will cover approximately 35% of eligible losses. USDA says a second round may be issued if additional funds remain once initial demand is met. The relief program is the first of two authorized under the legislation. Additional assistance, including support for producers affected by flooding, is expected to be announced later this summer.
Producers can monitor program timelines and updates through USDA’s disaster assistance page at fsa.usda.gov.