WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is urging dairy producers affected by H5N1 to apply for financial relief through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) by the January 30, 2025, deadline. The program provides critical support to producers who experienced losses in 2024 due to adverse conditions, including the impact of H5N1 on milk production.
Since July 2024, ELAP has offered assistance to dairy producers who suffered milk losses when cattle were removed from commercial milking due to positive H5N1 tests. To date, over $80 million has been distributed to producers in 16 states. While active H5N1 detections in dairy herds remain in California and Texas, the program has supported producers nationwide during the ongoing outbreak.
“USDA recognizes the economic threats posed by events like H5N1, which fall outside producers’ ordinary risks,” said Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency. “This assistance ensures farmers can recover and sustain their operations.”
Eligible losses for H5N1-related assistance include income loss from reduced milk production for up to 120 days following a confirmed positive test. Producers impacted in 2024 and extending into 2025 must submit separate applications for each calendar year. The program also covers a range of other losses due to weather, disease, and related conditions.
Producers must provide documentation of losses, including veterinary records and feed receipts, and can apply at their nearest USDA Service Center. For more details, visit farmers.gov/service-locator.
