By Scout Nelson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Farm Service Agency (FSA), has extended the application deadline for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) to Sept. 30, 2026. The extension provides additional time for producers impacted by drought, flooding, severe storms, tornadoes, and other qualifying natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 to apply for assistance.
The updated program also offers greater flexibility for farmers who experienced quality-related crop losses. Producers can now use verifiable and reliable documentation to demonstrate eligible losses, helping them better document the financial impact of disaster-related crop damage.
FSA Administrator Bill Beam said the changes are intended to simplify participation and expand access to relief. Funded through the American Relief Act, 2025, SDRP provides more than $16 billion in assistance to producers who suffered revenue, production, or quality losses involving crops, trees, bushes, and vines.
Producers with indemnified losses can apply through SDRP Stage 1, which uses Federal Crop Insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) data to calculate payments. Those with uninsured, non-indemnified, shallow, or quality-related losses may qualify for Stage 2 assistance, and some producers may be eligible for support under both stages.
To support quality-loss claims, FSA now accepts third-party documentation such as grading reports, nutrient test results, and production records. County committees may also review additional evidence when determining eligibility for disaster-related quality losses.
The agency has expanded flexibility for crops that were ultimately sold for a different purpose than originally intended, including products diverted from fresh markets to processing channels or sold at salvage value. Producers must provide records showing actual production volumes and prices received.
Farmers whose Stage 1 quality-loss applications are missing production data must still submit applications by Sept. 30, 2026. Once the necessary information becomes available, FSA will notify affected producers and provide an opportunity to review and update their applications.
Producers can access online quality-loss calculators through the SDRP webpage and contact local FSA offices for assistance with applications and eligibility requirements.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-kotenko-a
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Government & Policy