Wednesday, October 1, 2025

State News

FSA Program for 2023 Flood: Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP)

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has opened applications for the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP), providing assistance to livestock producers who faced higher feed costs due to the 2023 floods (and/or 2024 qualifying events). Nearly all California counties have been designated eligible.

Key Program Details:

Application period: September 15 – October 31
What’s needed: Livestock inventory records as of the disaster date (e.g., feed records, daily milking logs, veterinary records)
Coverage: 60% of three months’ feed costs, based on USDA rates
Example estimate: About $136,001 for 500 adult dairy cows (before factoring, if applied)

This program is designed to get dollars out quickly — for approved counties, FSA does not require additional disaster documentation beyond livestock inventory records. Contact your local FSA office for applications and required forms.

See the eligible counties map

Federal News

USDA Invests $200 Million in Wildfire Defense Projects

USDA recently announced $200 million in funding for 58 projects across 22 states to help communities reduce wildfire risks through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program. The projects will support local wildfire protection plans and remove hazardous vegetation that fuels fires threatening homes, businesses, and rural infrastructure. Over the next five years, USDA plans to invest $1 billion to assist at-risk communities, including tribal groups, nonprofits, and state forestry agencies, in preparing for and mitigating wildfire risks on non-federal lands.

This investment underscores the importance of proactive, science-based management to protect both rural communities and natural resources from escalating wildfire threats.

Learn more about funded projects and future grant opportunities

New World Screwworm Detected Near U.S. Border

USDA has confirmed a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Nuevo León, Mexico, less than 70 miles from the Texas border. This is the northernmost detection of the pest in the current outbreak and the most immediate threat to U.S. cattle and livestock. NWS maggots infest wounds of livestock and other animals, feeding on living tissue and causing severe harm if not treated quickly.

USDA is executing an aggressive five-pronged plan to protect U.S. livestock, including sterile fly release, expanded border surveillance, public awareness campaigns, and coordinated efforts with Mexican authorities. Ports remain closed to cattle, bison, and horse imports from Mexico while containment measures continue.

What Farmers Should Know:

Remain vigilant for signs of NWS in your herd — particularly enlarging wounds or visible larvae.

Contact your state animal health official or USDA veterinarian immediately if you suspect infection.

Protecting livestock from NWS is a top priority, and producers play a critical role in early detection and rapid response.

Learn more about details and resources

MARKET UPDATE

Cream remains ample and there’s plenty of butter to go around. The CME butter market fell to a four-year low of $1.60 per pound last week. That price triggered heavy trading activity that drove the market into the mid-$1.70s, only for it to drop back to the low-$1.70s on Tuesday.

After spending the last few weeks in the low -$1.60s, spot blocks jumped to end the month in the low-$1.70s. Barrels are hovering just below that mark. But with domestic demand still soft, cheese prices in Europe on the decline and milk output strong, it’s unclear how long markets will be able to hold at this level.
According to USDA’s August Cold Storage report, butter inventories dropped on the month and year-over-year. But the decline wasn’t large enough to create anxiety around supply. The report was neutral for cheese. Inventories were above prior-year levels and down seasonally month-over-month.
The CME nonfat dry milk market ticked higher this week, climbing into the mid-$1.10s. But there’s still not enough news to move the needle much in either direction.

In its quarterly Grain Stocks report, USDA estimated US corn inventories down more than 13% on the year, but ahead of expectations. Exports are keeping an above-average pace and ethanol production is also up. The market is still expecting a record harvest, helping keep prices balanced.
Soybean stock estimates for the third quarter were down on the year and below predictions. But China is still not buying US soybeans, keeping a firm lid on prices.
As of September 28, corn harvest was 18% complete, up from 11% the previous week, but behind the five-year average of 19%. It was a similar story in soybeans, at 19% complete compared to 9% last week and 20% on the five-year average.

THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT SPONSORS

Become a Sponsor

Our Company | Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Policy