The USDA has announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses.
Payments are based on existing Federal Crop Insurance data and will cover losses to crops, trees, bushes, and vines due to a qualifying natural disaster event in calendar years 2020 and 2021.
FSA will send pre-filled application forms to producers with crop insurance data already on file. Receipt of a pre-filled application is not confirmation that a producer is eligible to receive an ERP phase one payment.
FSA has done its best to streamline the process for producers, but eligibility must be validated and the appropriate forms must be filed with FSA. It’s highly recommended that you review the news release and its linked contents should your clients contact you with questions about the ERP.