US farmers can now get disaster aid for more types of crops and livestock

The US Department of Agriculture has approved new rules for agricultural disaster aid. This means farmers can now receive payments for a wider range of crops and livestock losses, not just those covered by traditional insurance.

For years, federal disaster aid programs often left out farmers with less common crops or specific types of livestock. This change means more farmers can get help when natural disasters hit, making their operations more resilient. It also means the government is expanding its definition of what counts as an insurable agricultural loss.