S 1494119th CongressIn Committee

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program Enhancement Act of 2025

Introduced: Apr 10, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program Enhancement Act of 2025 would expand the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) to include crops and grasses used for grazing. In other words, grazing forage such as pasture and hay crops would become eligible for NAP disaster payments, rather than being excluded. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture (specifically the Secretary) to issue regulations within 90 days of enactment to implement these changes. The aim is to broaden federal disaster assistance to a broader set of grazing-related forages, not just non-grazing crops.

Key Points

1Removes exemption: The bill eliminates the current statutory exclusion that crops and grasses used for grazing are not eligible for NAP, effectively making grazing forages eligible for coverage.
2Statutory change: Amends Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) to widen NAP coverage to grazing-related crops.
3Regulatory implementation: Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations within 90 days after enactment to carry out the amendments.
4Administration and scope: The change expands NAP eligibility within the framework of noninsured crops; details on eligibility rules, payment calculations, and applicability will be determined by the forthcoming regulations.
5Purpose and intent: Broadens safety-net support for producers who grow crops or grasses used for grazing, potentially benefiting livestock operations that depend on forage as part of their feed base.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Farmers and ranchers who grow grazing forages (pasture, hay, grasses) for livestock, including those whose operations rely on noninsurable forage crops.Secondary group/area affected- Livestock producers and ranchers who rely on grazing for feed, as they may access additional disaster aid for forage losses.- Local and rural economies tied to forage production and grazing lands, including farm service agencies administering NAP.Additional impacts- Administrative burden on the USDA Farm Service Agency to implement new eligibility rules and processing for grazing-based crops.- Potential budgetary implications for NAP funding, since expanding eligibility could influence payments and program demand, though the text does not specify new funding.- Regulatory guidance will define specifics such as payment rates, triggers for coverage, and documentation requirements once regulations are issued.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 19, 2025