SDRP is a separate Congressional appropriation that supplements the standard federal disaster programs (LFP, LIP, ELAP, ERP) for losses experienced in 2023 and 2024. On August 10, 2026, USDA extended the Stage 1 and Stage 2 application deadline for a second time, from August 12 to September 30, 2026, and simultaneously announced new flexibilities for quality-loss claims.
Two separate developments matter here: whether a producer needs to file (or file again) by the new deadline, and whether the doubled 70% payment factor changes what they're already owed.
Current SDRP deadline: September 30, 2026
Extended on August 10, 2026 from the previous August 12 deadline. Applies to Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications for 2023 and 2024 losses. This is the second extension — the original deadline was April 30, 2026.
Producers who missed the previous August 12 deadline have until September 30 to file.
What SDRP is
SDRP was authorized by Congress to supplement standard federal disaster programs for producers who experienced losses in 2023 or 2024 — years that saw significant drought, wildfire, hurricane, and other qualifying events across the country. USDA has issued approximately $6.7 billion in SDRP payments as of April 2026.
The program has two stages:
- Stage 1 — automatic top-up payments to producers who already received Stage 1 disaster program payments (LFP, LIP, ELAP, or ERP) for 2023 or 2024 losses. No refile required for the base Stage 1 payment.
- Stage 2 — separate application for shallow-loss claims and quality-loss claims on 2023 and 2024 crops. These are losses that weren't fully compensated through Stage 1 or standard programs.
SDRP is not a replacement for LFP, LIP, ELAP, or ERP — it's an additional layer of federal aid Congress appropriated specifically for the 2023 and 2024 disaster years.
The 70% payment factor (doubled in April 2026)
The initial SDRP Stage 1 payment factor was 35% of the calculated eligible loss. On April 24, 2026, USDA doubled this to 70%. The mechanism: producers with already-approved Stage 1 applications receive an additional 35% payment automatically, bringing their cumulative payment factor to 70% without any refiling.
Producers who received an initial Stage 1 payment should see the additional 35% arrive via ACH direct deposit as USDA processes the increased payment factor. Current payment timing detail is on the payments page.
Who needs to file, and who's automatically enrolled
Three scenarios cover most producers:
- Already received Stage 1 payment from prior programs (LFP/LIP/ELAP/ERP) for 2023 or 2024: Automatically enrolled for the additional 35% Stage 1 top-up. No action needed.
- Had 2023 or 2024 disaster losses but never filed: Can still apply through September 30, 2026. This is the population the deadline extension is aimed at.
- Had shallow-loss or quality-loss claims not covered under Stage 1: Stage 2 applications also close September 30, 2026.
New for August 2026: quality-loss flexibility
The August 10, 2026 announcement introduced two changes for producers with quality-loss claims:
- Documentation flexibility. Producers who experienced quality-related discounts on 2023 or 2024 crops due to natural disasters can now use verifiable and reliable documentation to establish those losses. Previously, documentation requirements were narrower.
- Alternative-use flexibility. Producers can apply a quality-loss percentage to crops with a final use different from the intended use. For example, corn intended for grain but sold as feed after quality issues.
The filing process
Producers not already enrolled who want to file for SDRP Stage 1 or Stage 2:
- Contact the local FSA office. SDRP applications are filed at the local FSA county office. Find your FSA office.
- Bring documentation of 2023 or 2024 losses. Insurance records, prior-year sales receipts, existing FSA disaster-program filings, and any documentation of quality-loss discounts if filing under Stage 2 quality provisions.
- Complete the SDRP application form. Different form than the underlying LFP/LIP/ELAP applications. The FSA office provides the correct SDRP form.
- File before September 30, 2026. Both Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications close on the same date.
Common SDRP questions
Who is automatically enrolled in SDRP?
Producers who already received Stage 1 payments from prior 2023 or 2024 disaster programs (LFP, LIP, ELAP, or ERP) are automatically eligible for the additional Stage 1 top-up payment. USDA doubled the payment factor from 35% to 70% in April 2026, and producers with approved Stage 1 applications receive the additional 35% without refiling.
Who still needs to file for SDRP?
Producers who had 2023 or 2024 disaster losses but haven't previously filed for federal aid can still apply through September 30, 2026. Stage 2 applications for shallow-loss and quality-loss claims also close on September 30, 2026.
When will SDRP payments be made?
USDA has issued approximately $6.7 billion in SDRP payments as of April 2026. Producers with approved Stage 1 applications receive their additional 35% top-up automatically as USDA processes the increased payment factor. New Stage 2 applications process on the same timeline as other FSA disaster programs — historically a few weeks after complete application, extended to multi-week or multi-month waits in 2026 due to county-office backlogs. Full payment timing detail on the payments page.
What are the new quality-loss flexibilities announced August 10, 2026?
USDA now allows producers with quality-related discounts on 2023 or 2024 crops to use verifiable and reliable documentation to show quality losses due to natural disasters. Producers also have flexibility to use a quality loss percentage for crops with a final use different from their intended use.
What if I missed the previous August 12 deadline?
The deadline was extended on August 10, 2026 from August 12 to September 30, 2026. Producers who missed August 12 have until September 30 to file. This is the second SDRP deadline extension — the original was April 30, then August 12, now September 30.
Sources
- USDA press release, August 10, 2026 — "USDA Extends Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Application Deadline, Announces New Flexibilities for 2023 and 2024 Quality Losses." fsa.usda.gov
- USDA press release, April 24, 2026 — "USDA Issues Second Supplemental Disaster Payment to Farmers, Extends Program Application Deadline to August 12." usda.gov
- USDA FSA — Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) resource page. fsa.usda.gov/resources/disaster-recovery/supplemental-disaster-relief-program-sdrp
- USDA FSA — 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance resource page. fsa.usda.gov
- RMA — Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) frequently asked questions. rma.usda.gov
- Farm CPA Report (April 2026), "USDA Doubles SDRP Payments to 70%: Why Stage 1 Came in Hot and Stage 2 Came in Cold." Link
- Terrain (2026), "Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Stage 2 Update." Link
About this page
What this is not. Not affiliated with USDA. Not legal or financial advice. Not a substitute for talking to a local FSA office, where individual SDRP eligibility and payment status are calculated against specific application records.
Analytics and privacy. Privacy-friendly session analytics (PostHog) to make sure the site works as it's supposed to. IP addresses aren't captured, form inputs aren't recorded, and Do Not Track is respected.
Corrections or updates: [email protected]