Final chance for 2022 USDA relief funds

Jul 18, 2024

Apply by August 14, 2024, for USDA’s emergency relief program

By Farms.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers of the approaching deadline to apply for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to mitigate losses from 2022’s natural disasters.

The deadline to submit applications is August 14, 2024, with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) having opened the application window in October 2023.

“Don’t delay. Gather up your documents and contact your local office to complete the application process,” advised FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. He highlighted the importance for those affected by disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, and other extreme weather events to seek the available support.

The ERP 2022 is part of the broader Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, through which Congress has provided $3.2 billion to aid in covering an estimated $10 billion in crop and other agricultural losses.

The program specifically addresses losses to crops, trees, bushes, and vines from various qualifying natural disasters occurred in 2022.

This initiative is part of the USDA's efforts to support recovery in the agricultural sector, ensuring farmers can continue operations and contribute to the food supply chain despite the setbacks from natural calamities.

Video: Our Own On-Farm Research Is the Best Source - Managing White Mold in Northeast Nebraska

If you assumed Nebraska was too hot and dry for white mold to be a problem in soybeans, think again.

This week we're featuring Galen Samuelson, a farmer and dealer from Wakefield, Nebraska, who knows all too well how devastating white mold can be.

"We don't have it consistently every year, but with our temperature and humidity, it can hurt us quite bad," Samuelson says. Looking for alternatives, he explains, "What I like about Heads Up is that it's non-harmful to the beneficial fungal colonies in the soil." Galen has been using Heads Up for several years now, after first hearing about it through a small ad in a regional newspaper. Watch below to hear about his journey.

When asked to write about Samuelson Seed, Galen said the following:

"Samuelson Seed is a 4th-generation, family-based company. It started with my grandfather, and I'm now starting to pass the torch to my son, Caleb."

"In the early 1990s, I started working with a company whose focus was on plant and soil health before those benefits were widely known. I've continued to keep plant and soil health the main focus in our farming operation decisions."