Rollins announces expedited disaster aid
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on May 7 held the inaugural Farmers First roundtable at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and announced expedited disaster aid.
After studying the needs and current state of the farm economy, Rollins will launch a plan later this month to ensure smaller-scale family-owned farming operations are economically viable and those who want to start and keep their own farms for future generations. The states are key stakeholders in supporting American agriculture and the group discussed ways USDA will work together with states and federal and private sector partners to put farmers first.
Alongside National Association of State Departments of Agriculture President Wes Ward, Rollins signed a memorandum of understanding to improve collaboration, coordination, and to ensure partnership with friends in the agriculture community on the front lines.
This plan builds on the many ways USDA is putting farmers first and reprioritizing customer service. USDA’s Emergency Commodity Assistance Program was the quickest, most effective rollout of emergency payments in the history of the program. To date, 487,177 farmers across 49 states have received over $7.3 billion in payments. To ensure transparency, USDA updates the portal every Monday so the American people can track payment totals.
Following several natural disasters that impacted farms and ranches across the country, Rollins announced plans to expedite $21 billion in disaster assistance. Farmers receiving livestock relief for drought and wildfire can expect to receive payments as soon as the end of this month. “While we aim to move all payments out expeditiously and to cut timelines where possible, it is important to note that some elements of the congressionally appropriated assistance are more specific and labor intensive and were also not statutorily required, therefore will take more time,” the USDA announced.
“At USDA, we understand there are many challenges to starting a new farm and maintaining a small family farm. While there are many programs to assist our farmers, we feel strongly that it takes government entities, non-profits, and the private sector working together to improve the viability, prosperity, and longevity of small family farms,” Rollins said. “President Trump knows how important agriculture is to the success of our country. We delivered ECAP payments in record time and will do it again with this disaster assistance announced today.”
A landing page to track the status of USDA’s disaster rollout, which will be updated regularly, has been launched.
Disaster Assistance Program Timeline
Emergency Livestock Relief Program – Drought/Wildfire
May 23 – Release to Federal Register for publication
May 28 – Final rule on public display
May 29 – Payment processing on Thursday night
May 30 – County offices sign and certify payments
Supplemental Disaster Relief Program – Previously Indemnified Loss
June 30 – Release to Federal Register for Publication
July 3 – Final rule on public display
July 7 – SDRP sign up begins
Emergency Livestock Relief Program – Flooding includes Commodity Loss Assistance Program, Milk Loss Program – Combined Final Rule
Aug. 13 – Sent to Federal Register for publication
Aug. 15 – Final Rule on public display
Aug. 18 – ELRP flooding, Commodity Loss Assistance and Milk Loss – sign up begins
Supplemental Disaster Relief Program – Uncovered Loss
Sept. 10 – Sent to Federal Register for publication
Sep. 12 – Final Rule on public display
Sept. 15 – SDRP sign up targeted.
Besides the disaster aid announcement, Rollins hosted Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, the board of directors for the NASDA and more than 20 farmers and ranchers from 11 states who run smaller-scale, independent, family-owned operations.
