Federal Register #FSA-2026-0067

USDA Final Rule: Expanded Disaster Assistance and Commodity Program Updates under OBBBA

This final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency revises disaster assistance and commodity programs to align with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): - Government Buyer: - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) - Farm Service Agency (FSA) - Programs Affected: - Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) - Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) - Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) - Tree Assistance Program (TAP) - Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP) - Sugar Program - Key Product/Service Changes: - Expanded ELAP coverage for bird depredation losses on farm-raised fish, with payments at a minimum rate of $600 per eligible acre of freshwater - Lowered drought thresholds for LFP eligibility - Compensation for unborn livestock death losses under LIP at 85% of the payment rate for the lowest weight class, with birthing factors applied - Increased MAL and LDP loan rates for all eligible commodities for crop years 2026 through 2031, including honey, upland and extra-long staple (ELS) cotton, and sugar - Revised formulas for world market prices for upland and ELS cotton - Capped cotton storage payment rates at $4.90 for California and Arizona, $3.00 for other states - Increased raw cane and refined beet sugar loan rates and storage rates through crop year 2031 - Notable Requirements: - Retroactive provisions for certain LIP unborn death loss compensations for 2024 and 2025 program years - Technical amendments to clarify eligibility, payment calculations, and administrative procedures - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named, as these are government-administered programs.

Description

This final rule by the Department of Agriculture revises regulations for several disaster assistance and commodity programs to align with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). It includes updates to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Tree Assistance Program (TAP), Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL), Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP), and the Sugar Program. Key changes include expanded assistance for bird depredation and honeybee colony losses, adjusted eligibility thresholds, increased loan rates for 2026-2031 crop years, revised world market price calculations for cotton, and administrative updates to improve program integrity. The rule is effective July 9, 2026.

View original listing