The US Department of Agriculture has begun accepting applications for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, providing federally funded assistance to farmers and ranchers who lost crops or livestock to droughts, floods, wildfires and other natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. The rollout, overseen by Secretary Rollins, follows a congressional mandate aimed at speeding recovery in rural communities hit hardest by extreme weather. Producers can apply through their local Farm Service Agency offices, with lawmakers from both parties urging eligible operations to seek aid. The initiative marks the first round of payments under the program and is intended to help stabilize farm incomes and support rebuilding efforts as communities continue to recover from successive years of severe weather.