33,000 Applications Already Submitted for USDA Disaster Program

WASHINGTON, DC – For farmers that experienced weather-related disasters in 2018 or 2019, there’s a program through USDA that might provide some financial assistance. Originally WHIP (Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program) could only apply to situations involving wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding. Last year, Congress amended the program to allow producers who suffered losses due to drought or excessive moisture the opportunity to apply. The new program is called WHIP+ and producers who suffered losses from drought (in counties designated D3 or above), excess moisture, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms or wildfires can still apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). To date, according to Administrator Richard Fordyce, FSA has received more than 33,000 WHIP+ applications and in addition to the recently added eligible losses of drought and excess moisture, FSA will implement a WHIP+ provision for crop quality loss that resulted in price reductions or penalties when marketing crops damaged by eligible disaster events.