USDA to provide $1 billion in drought, wildfire relief

On May 29, Secretary Rollins announced the release of Congressionally mandated Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments to cover grazing losses due to eligible drought or wildfire events in 2023 and/or 2024.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is leveraging existing Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) data to streamline payment calculations and expedite relief. Emergency relief payments are automatically issued for producers who have an approved LFP application on file for 2023 and/or 2024. Producers do not have to contact USDA to receive payments.

The American Relief Act, 2025, provided funds for emergency relief payments. This program is the first of two programs authorized to assist with eligible losses suffered by livestock producers. FSA will announce additional ELRP assistance for other losses authorized by the Act, including flooding, later this summer. FSA expects demand for this first program to be great, so the ELRP payments will be factored at 35%. If additional funds remain, FSA may issue a second payment.

A 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance public landing page provides the status of USDA disaster assistance and block grant rollout timeline. The page is updated regularly and accessible through https://www.fsa.usda.gov/.

Annual Forage insurance webinar

The Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics will host a webinar June 12 from noon-1 p.m. Central Time to focus on “Annual Forage Insurance: Essentials and Application to Water-Limited Settings.” There is no fee, but registration is required.

Annual Forage insurance provides payments to producers of annual crops grown for forage or feed when rainfall falls below average levels. It may be especially useful when traditional multi-peril crop insurance is unavailable or not well-suited to a producer’s needs.

While similar to Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) insurance, Annual Forage has key differences — most notably, coverage intervals are limited to the crop’s growing season. This webinar will introduce the fundamentals of Annual Forage insurance and walk through examples of how it can be used as part of a risk management strategy in the face of water shortages, including drought or restricted irrigation.

The deadline to purchase Annual Forage insurance for annual forage crops planted from August 2025 through July 2026 is July 15, 2025.

Stockman & Stewardship sessions scheduled

Registration for 2025 Stockman & Stewardship Tour sessions is open. Three sessions are scheduled:

• June 26-28 — Watertown, S.D., at the South Dakota State University Extension Codington County Office, 1910 West Kemp Ave
• Aug. 13-14 — Canyon, Texas, at West Texas A&M University, 600 WTAMU Dr
• Sept. 4-6 — Springfield, Mo., at Missouri State University, William H. Darr Agriculture Center, 2401 S Kansas Expy

The events are in various stages of planning. Details are available online at https://www.stockmanshipandstewardship.org/ .

The event in Watertown is intended for cattle producers, veterinarians and industry professionals looking to elevate their livestock management skills. The hands-on experience will provide practical insights on biosecurity, cattle handling, grazing management and industry best practices.

Farm Progress Show to feature drone experiences and an applicator aircraft

Farm Progress announces the return of the Farm Progress Show to its biennial Decatur, Ill., location on Aug. 26-28. This year’s event celebrates 20 years since Decatur became the show’s established home, alternating with Boone, Iowa, as the show’s permanent locations.

“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate two decades of agricultural innovation at our permanent Decatur site,” said Matt Jungmann, senior national events director for Farm Progress. 2025 show highlights include:

• New interactive drone program with demonstrations and educational opportunities for precision aerial applications
• Dedicated cover crop demonstration plots, expanding the event’s focus on sustainable farming practices
• Comprehensive Ride-and-Drive program featuring UTVs, autonomous equipment and smart sprayers from leading manufacturers
• Full-scale Air Tractor agricultural applicator plane on display across two exhibitor lots.
• Air-conditioned Hospitality Building provided by the Propane Education Research Council

The 2025 Farm Progress Show will continue to showcase comprehensive field demonstrations at the Decatur site. Corn was planted by mid-April to ensure optimal conditions for live harvesting demonstrations. Visitors will experience the latest advancements in seed technology, crop protection products and agricultural equipment.

The show will be Aug. 26-28 at Decatur, Ill. Show hours run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT daily. Advance tickets are $15. Admission at the gate will be $25. Advance tickets, golf cart reservations and hotel accommodations can be booked online. For more information, visit www.farmprogressshow.com.

Cattle. Crops. Community will be in the spotlight at 2025 Husker Harvest Days

Secure your spot at Husker Harvest Days scheduled for Sept. 9-11 in Grand Island, Neb. Admission includes:

• Exclusive access to cutting-edge irrigation technology
• Live field demonstrations each day, including new manure-spreading demos
• Ride-and-drives that let you test the latest equipment in real-world conditions
• Hands-on cattle-handling demonstrations at the BEEF Showcase
• Community networking with farmers, exhibitors and industry experts

If you register online for complimentary admission to all three days of the show, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a Big Green Egg ceramic outdoor grill and cooker.

Rollins leads trade delegation to Italy

Secretary Rollins was to visit Rome, Italy, June 2-3, to reinforce the administration’s expectations for improved ag market access to Italy and the European Union and encourage the United Nations organizations in Rome to prioritize American interests, reduce costs and focus on their core mandates.

“The United States’ relationships with Italian buyers and consumers foster tens of billions in bilateral trade and investment. However, U.S. agricultural stakeholders have been unfairly left behind for far too long by the European Union and Italy’s high tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and numerous non-tariff barriers,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “In coordination with Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, we at USDA will continue working to level the playing field and increase market opportunities with the EU and Italy for hardworking U.S. farmers, ranchers, foresters and food processors.”

Secretary Rollins was to meet with senior Italian government and International Organization officials, including the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests Francesco Lollobrigida, Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d’Affaires for the U.S. Embassy Marta Youth, Charge d’Affaires for the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome Rodney Hunter, UN Food and Agriculture Organization Director General Qu Dongyu, and UN World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain.

This trade mission follows Secretary Rollins’s trip to the U.K. in May, and precedes future trade travel to India, Vietnam, Japan, Peru and Brazil over the next four months. Other USDA trade missions this year include the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Côte d’Ivoire and Mexico.

PLC announces policy committee leaders

On May 30 the Public Lands Council (PLC) announced the appointment of public lands ranchers to new leadership positions in PLC policy committees. These individuals will guide conversations that develop grassroots policies aimed at strengthening federal lands management and multiple-use policy that recognizes the important role livestock grazing continues to play in Western communities.

“Our committee leaders are tasked with being the pulse of the ranching and grazing community,” says PLC President and Colorado rancher Tim Canterbury. “From local community gatherings to meetings in the Capitol, these leaders take critical time away from their operations to work for the future of our industry.”

The announcement included a restructuring of committees to be responsive to developing needs of public lands policy. The incoming policy committee chairs and vice chairs include:

Grazing — Brian DeGanahl (AZ), chair; Ty Checketts (WY), vice chair

Wildlife — Jeff Dawson (WA), chair; John O’Keeffe (OR), vice chair

Multiple Use — Perri Jacobs (MT), chair; Bronson Corn (NM), vice chair

Industry Issues — Nate Thompson (UT), chair; Dave Daley (CA), vice chair

Editor’s note: Compiled by Editor Shauna Hermel.

Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 17, No. 6-A