(NAFB.com) – The USDA is issuing payments this week to agricultural producers impacted by natural disasters. The assistance includes $143 million in crop insurance indemnities for Florida producers impacted by Hurricane Milton and over $92 million for livestock producers nationwide who have faced increased supplemental feed costs as a result of forage losses due to 2022 qualifying drought and wildfire events. “Florida farmers, livestock producers, and forest landowners have been hit hard by hurricanes this year, and we’re continuing our efforts to help producers recover following hurricanes like Milton,” says Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Additionally, payments for America’s livestock producers serve as another example of how we’re leveraging every available resource to help as many people as we can on the road to recovery.” Producers with federal crop insurance coverage through the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index endorsement and Tropical Storm Option will see their payments from insurance providers in the next 30 days.