Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is maximizing disaster assistance support for producers by issuing a second Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) payment to eligible producers who have approved program applications for losses due to natural disasters in calendar years 2023 and 2024.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided $6.7 billion in SDRP payments to eligible producers. Additionally, USDA is extending the program deadline to give producers and FSA more time to address any program application changes that could impact payments. The original April 30 deadline has been extended to August 12 for SDRP Stage 1 and Stage 2.
Initial SDRP payments were factored at 35%, but after further analysis, USDA is increasing the payment factor to 70%, meaning producers with approved applications will receive an additional 35% of their calculated SDRP payment. Future SDRP payments will also be made using a 70% payment factor.
SDRP Stage 1
The first stage, announced in July 2025, remains available to producers who received an indemnity under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for eligible crop losses due to qualifying 2023 and 2024 natural disaster events.
SDRP Stage 2
Stage 2 of SDRP covers eligible crop, tree, bush and vine losses that were not covered under Stage One program provisions, including non-indemnified (shallow loss), uncovered and quality losses.
Eligibility
Eligible losses must be the result of natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and/or 2024. These disasters include wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, and related conditions.
Contact your local USDA Service Center to see if you are eligible and apply.
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New England Leopold Conservation Award
Nominate yourself or another farmer for the 2026 New England Leopold Conservation Award by June 15. This award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners in New England who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water resources and wildlife habitat on working land with a $10,000 prize.
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Rotational Grazing for Horses Workshop
UVM Extension's Center for Sustainable Agriculture is hosting a free pasture walk on June 4 focused on rotationally grazing horses. Becky Kinkead grazes her Icelandic horses on a paddock paradise system to benefit both the land and animals. Join for a discussion on different ways to rotationally graze horses and the benefits it can bring to your farm.
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Upcoming Dates & Deadlines
June
6/1 - Vermont Day and Harvest New England Day at the Big E applications due
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