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: OFA statement on Canada-U.S. trade escalation and Canadian counter-tariffs

Following the implementation of Canadian counter-tariffs on approximately $27.6 billion in U.S. imports earlier this week, the immediate retaliatory measures announced by the United States, including threatened import bans on Canadian dairy and alcoholic beverage products, underscore the dangerous trajectory of this dispute. Tariff escalation is not a long-term solution.

As consumers on both sides of the border struggle with food affordability, trade disruptions and retaliatory measures only exacerbate these challenges. Ontario farmers continue to urge both federal governments to return to the negotiating table and secure a fair, durable trade agreement that protects producers and processors across North America.