S. 984 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 12, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryOpens agriculture disaster aid to higher earners
Right now, farmers and ranchers can't get certain disaster assistance from the USDA if they make too much money—specifically, if their average income is over $900,000 in a year. This bill changes that rule. If at least 75% of a person's or business's income comes from farming, ranching, forestry, or related activities like selling agricultural equipment or marketing farm products directly to consumers, they could qualify for disaster help even if their total income is higher.
How it affects you
If you're a farmer, rancher, or involved in forestry and your operation generates most of your income but your total earnings exceed the current limit, this could make you eligible for USDA disaster assistance programs you couldn't access before—including help with livestock losses, crop failures, or damage to trees and forests.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 12, 2025)
Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act
This bill waives the adjusted gross income limitations for payments or benefits under specific Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance programs for a person or legal entity that derives a portion of their income from agriculture. Currently, a person or entity is not eligible to receive certain benefits during a crop, fiscal, or program year if their average gross income exceeds $900,000.
Specifically, in the case of an excepted payment or benefit, the adjusted gross income limitation is waived if 75% or more of the average adjusted gross income for the person or entity is derived from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities. These activities include agritourism, direct-to-consumer marketing of agricultural products, and the sale of agricultural equipment owned by such person or entity.
The bill applies to the USDA
• Livestock Indemnity Program;
• Livestock Forage Disaster Program;
• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program;
• Tree Assistance Program; and
• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 984
A BILL
Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act
Sponsor: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) · Introduced Mar 12, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 12, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1706)”