Billions of dollars of disaster assistance are still available. Farmers need to act to get the second stage of Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) payments. Have you applied yet?
Read on for what you need to know and what to check for on your SDRP application.
What is Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) Stage 2?
Stage 2 will provide additional financial relief to farmers who experienced shallow or non-indemnified losses during the 2023 or 2024 calendar years. This includes losses that weren’t covered by federal crop insurance or NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program), as well as some losses that didn’t trigger a federal crop insurance claim. Stage 1 was already paid to farmers.
What You Need to Check for on Your Application
Your application at your Farm Service Agency (FSA) office should be pre-filled with your information based on your crop insurance information from qualifying years. FSA will calculate your eligibility amount. While you check to ensure all your information is correct, there are some key items you should review when completing your application.
1. SDRP Liability
SDRP Liability is a major factor in how much payment you are eligible for. First, you will need to know your crop insurance guarantee to confirm your SDRP Liability.
Your Crop Value
How it is calculated: Approved APH x Spring Projected Commodity Price x Acres
SDRP is only using Spring Projected prices for the commodity; Harvest Prices are not being utilized.
Spring Projected Prices
| 2023 | 2024 | |
| Corn | $5.91 | $4.66 |
| Soybeans | $13.76 | $11.55 |
Your SDRP Liability
How it is calculated: Crop Value x SDRP Payment Factor
The SDRP Payment Factor is based on your coverage level. For example, if you had 75% coverage level: Crop Insurance Guarantee x .925. The table below shows the SDRP Factors based on coverage level.
2. Your Production for 2023 and 2024
Ensure your production numbers are accurate on your SDRP application. Your Risk Management Advisor can provide them, if necessary.
Farmers will first receive 35% of their SDRP calculated payment to ensure there are funds. If there are remaining funds in the $16 billion allocated, RMA will have a “true-up” and issue the rest of the payment.
How to Apply
How to Apply
The USDA will not be mailing applications to farmers. Instead, producers need to take action and apply through one of the following methods below:
- In person at your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office
- Electronically using Box and OneSpan, or
- Email or fax submission to your local FSA office
Producers who had crop insurance and shallow losses may have pre-filled application data available for review but submission is still required.
When is the Deadline?
The deadline to apply is April 30th, 2026.
What Losses are Eligible for SDRP Stage 2?
Losses must have occurred during calendar years 2023 or 2024, and qualifying droughts must meet the USDA’s definition of either eight consecutive weeks of D2 (severe drought) or any period of D3 (extreme drought or higher). A full list of eligible drought-impacted counties can be found on USDA’s website.
Stage 2 offers support for losses that were either not covered or only partially covered under Stage 1. This stage includes payments for shallow losses, crops not insured under federal programs, and some quality-related losses. Here’s a breakdown of what’s covered under Stage 2:
- Uninsured Crop Losses: Assistance is available for crops not protected by federal crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). This provision may benefit producers of specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, or nursery and tree crops.
- Quality Losses: This support covers situations where crops were harvested but received a quality discount that wasn’t covered under a federal crop insurance policy.
- Shallow Crop Losses: This applies to losses in 2023 and 2024 that didn’t meet the minimum thresholds required for Stage 1 SDRP payments. Eligible producers will see payments based on crop insurance data. Many corn, soybean, and wheat producers in the Midwest are expected to fall into this category.
What You Should Do Now
If your operation experienced crop losses in 2023 or 2024 calendar years and those losses were not fully covered by federal crop insurance or NAP, you should apply for SDRP Stage 2. FSA has a producer pre-application checklist to assist you in what information you need to get started. If you have any questions about your eligibility, need access to your production records or Schedule of Insurance, you can contact your Risk Management Advisor.
