BISMARCK, N.D. (KXNET) —  A new bill passed by Congress will soon provide disaster relief to farmers and ranchers across America — including many in North Dakota, which will receive over $2.5 billion in funding. According to a press release from the office of Senator John Hoeven, he and other members of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee urged lawmakers to pass the bill in an effort to compensate for producer losses between 2023 and 2024. Nationwide, the approved package includes $21 billion to help those who have experienced agricultural losses due to natural disasters, $10 billion to address economic losses in 2024, and $2.5 billion to support other needs such as assistance for Agriculture Research Service buildings that were damaged in recent extreme weather conditions. Sen. Hoeven advances bill to compensate state and tribes for flooding which destroyed farmland As part of the new plan, farmers and ranchers throughout North Dakota are expected to receive over $600 million to help make up for major market losses that took place in the previous year, and a total of $2 billion to recuperate livestock losses (including those which occurred because of wildfires). The budget also includes $3 million in funding for the validation and testing of molasses imports, which the release claims is to help American sugar producers by stopping illegal shipments.  “Our farmers and ranchers have faced severe challenges this year from both market conditions as well as wildfires and other natural disasters,” Hoeven stated in the release. “This assistance for our producers is vital to keep their operations going and ensure that Americans continue to have access to high-quality, low-cost food. This assistance was necessary given the Democrats’ unwillingness to pass a farm bill that updated reference prices. We’ll continue our efforts to pass a strong farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net and keeps the farm in the farm bill.”   The support package also includes a one-year extension of the Farm Bill — which focuses on keeping food prices fair for both consumers and producers — until September 2025. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW