New Programs Announced with Expected Timeline

05/07/25 – Secretary Rollins announces an expedited disaster aid program. USDA plans to release 4 disaster programs this summer. Signups for these programs are expected to begin in July, August, and September.

 

Available Drought Programs

05/06/25 USDA Designated 6 ND counties as primary natural disaster areas and 15 ND/MT counties as eligible contiguous counties. This designation allows producers within these counties to apply for emergency loans through FSA.

Primary Counties Eligible: Billings, Dunn, Mckenzie, McLean, Mountrail & Williams

Contiguous Counties Eligible: ND: Burke, Burleigh, Divide, Golden Valley, McHenry, Mercer, Oliver, Sheridan, Slope, Start & Ward. MT: Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan & Wibaux

 

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) – Covers livestock losses due to eligible disease, certain adverse weather and feed and water shortages. Honeybee colony, hive, and feed losses due to colony collapse disorder, eligible adverse weather and other conditions. Documentation must be provided for losses and the conditions causing the losses, such as, veterinary records, feed and water receipts, purchase records, etc. ELAP Drought Eligibility Dashboard

 

Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) – Payments for grazing losses due to qualifying drought or fire. Payments for drought losses are calculated based on severity of drought and number of livestock units. Payments for fire losses are calculated based on number of eligible livestock and number of grazing days lost. Eligible counties are determined every Thursday. LFP Eligibility Dashboard / LFP Calculator

05/08/25 Eligible Counties:

North Dakota

  • Payment rate for 4 months: Billings, Dunn, Mckenzie, McLean, Mountrail
  • Payment rate for 3 months: Williams, Golden Valley

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) – Covers livestock deaths exceeding normal mortality caused by a natural disaster. Livestock losses are eligible for drought only when deaths are associated with anthrax. Documentation is required to prove livestock inventory and deaths. LIP Decision Tool can help you to gather information and documentation needed to apply for the program.

ELAP/LIP/LFP 2025 Deadline: March 1st, 2026, or submit as losses occur.

CRP Hay/Graze – Counties may be eligible for Emergency haying/grazing of CRP. Please contact your local FSA office for the latest eligibility status. County eligibility is reevaluated every Thursday. Participants must file a request prior to haying or grazing. Haying of CRP cannot start until after August 1st, 2025. Grazing may be available May-July if severe drought occurs.