U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the release of Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments, designed to assist livestock producers affected by drought or wildfire in 2023 and 2024. The announcement, made on May 29, 2025, confirms that the payments are being issued ahead of schedule.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) is using existing data from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) to expedite payment processes. Producers with an approved LFP application for 2023 and/or 2024 will receive payments automatically without needing to contact USDA.
"The Department of Agriculture is stepping up to support livestock producers by expediting disaster payments when drought and wildfires strike," stated Secretary Rollins. She emphasized that under President Trump's leadership, USDA aims to provide necessary relief promptly.
Funds for these emergency relief payments come from the American Relief Act, 2025. This initiative represents the first of two programs intended to aid livestock producers with eligible losses. Additional ELRP assistance for other types of losses, such as flooding, will be announced later this summer by FSA.
To manage high demand for this initial program, ELRP payments will be calculated at a rate of 35%. Should funds remain available after this distribution, a second payment may be issued.
USDA has committed to accelerating remaining disaster assistance efforts funded by the American Relief Act, 2025. Information about USDA disaster assistance and grant timelines can be found on their public landing page launched on May 7.
