USDA Announces WHIP+ Program

USDA Offers Program to Help Farmers Hurt by Natural Disasters

Agricultural producers who were impacted by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian, can apply for assistance through a recently announced U.S. Department of Agriculture program.

The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) provides disaster payments to offset losses from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms and wildfire. WHIP+ covers losses of crops, trees, bushes and vines for producers in qualifying disaster areas, as well as losses stemming from disaster-related conditions.

Signup for the USDA indemnity program is available as of Wednesday, Sept. 11. To see a list of counties that are eligible for the WHIP+ program, please visit: farmers.gov/sites/default/files/documents/WHIP-plus-counties.pdf.

Note: Because grazing and livestock losses, other than milk losses, are covered by other disaster recovery programs offered through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), those losses are not eligible for the program.

To learn more about the WHIP+ program and find a list of local service centers, please visit farmers.gov/recover/whip-plus.