WASHINGTON (Virginia Farm Bureau) — Virginia crop farmers are among those who are eligible for up to $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins recently announced that this funding was available for agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters, including drought and extreme heat, in 2023 and 2024.

To qualify for drought-related losses, the loss must have occurred in a county rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 severe drought for eight consecutive weeks, D3 extreme drought, or greater intensity level during the applicable calendar years.

To expedite the implementation of SDRP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency is delivering assistance in two stages. This first stage is open to producers with eligible crop losses that received assistance under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program during 2023 and 2024. Stage One sign-up started in person at FSA county offices on July 10 and prefilled applications were mailed to producers July 9. SDRP Stage Two sign-ups for eligible shallow or uncovered losses will begin in early fall.

To apply for SDRP, producers must submit the FSA-526, Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Stage One Application, in addition to having other forms on file with FSA.

Additional SDRP assistance for uncovered losses, including non-indemnified shallow losses and quality losses will be announced in the fall.

Learn more on the SDRP web page.