USDA agricultural risk management and relief measures

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has implemented several measures to expand risk management and financial relief for producers.

In early August, the USDA Risk Management Agency announced a 60-day extension for paying crop-insurance premiums and administrative fees due between July 1 and September 30, 2026, while waiving interest charges. Additionally, the agency reinstated an option for producers to purchase an extra 5% prevented-planting coverage for future crop years and introduced a new Forage Production Revenue Protection insurance program to safeguard against yield and price losses in 12 states.

Following this, the USDA extended the application deadline for Stages 1 and 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) to September 30, 2026. This program, authorized under the American Relief Act of 2025, provides over $16 billion in relief for losses caused by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. The Farm Service Agency also introduced increased flexibility for documenting quality-related losses to ensure more eligible producers can access assistance.