The USDA has shared information to assist growers who were impacted by a natural disaster in 2022 to collect the necessary documents to prepare for participating in the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), which will distribute the $3.7 billion from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced plans to begin the process of allocation soon.

To prepare for ERP participation for 2022 losses, the USDA recommends that crop producers should have or be prepared to have the following forms on file with FSA:

• Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet (as applicable to the program participant);
• Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity;
• Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable); and
• Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages producers to have their tax documents from the past few years and supporting materials ready including Schedule F (Form 1040) and Profit or Loss from Farming or similar tax documents. Producers who received ERP assistance are required to purchase crop insurance or NAP for the next two crop years.

For more information, go to the USDA resource page here.