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Requires the Secretary to pay additional compensation to eligible farm producers when unborn livestock die from certain covered conditions for losses occurring on or after January 1, 2024. The Secretary will set a payment rate (not to exceed 85% of the rate for the lowest weight class) and specific multipliers apply to different animals to calculate the payment amount.
Amends Section 1501(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(b)) by adding a new paragraph titled “(5) Additional payment for unborn livestock.”
In cases of unborn livestock death losses that occur on or after January 1, 2024 and exceed normal mortality due to a condition specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make an additional payment to eligible producers on farms that incurred such losses.
Payment rate: The additional payments shall be made at a rate determined by the Secretary, and that rate must be less than or equal to 85 percent of the payment rate established for the lowest weight class of the livestock, as determined by the Secretary acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency.
Payment amount multipliers: The payment amount to an eligible producer equals the payment rate (as set above) multiplied by a factor that depends on the livestock type: (i) multiplied by 1 for livestock described in subparagraphs (A), (B), or (F) of subsection (a)(4); (ii) multiplied by 2 for livestock described in subparagraph (D) of subsection (a)(4); (iii) multiplied by 12 for livestock described in subparagraph (E) of subsection (a)(4); and (iv) multiplied by the average number of birthed animals (for one gestation cycle) for the species for livestock described in subparagraph (G) of subsection (a)(4), as determined by the Secretary.
Defines “unborn livestock death losses” to mean losses of any livestock described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), (E), (F), or (G) of subsection (a)(4) that was gestating on the date of the death of the livestock.
Primary beneficiaries are farm producers who raise livestock; eligible producers will be able to receive extra payments when unborn animals die from covered conditions, reducing direct financial loss from those events. Owners and operators of commercial farms and other agricultural producers that manage breeding stock (cattle, swine, sheep, goats, equine, poultry, etc.) will see the most direct impact. The Department administering the program (e.g., USDA) will have increased administrative work to set the rate (within the 85% cap), publish multipliers and guidance, verify claims, and process payments. Because the provision does not itself appropriate funds, actual payouts depend on available program funds or future appropriations; without designated funding, implementation could be limited or require reallocation of existing resources. Secondary impacts may include reduced need for some private loss-mitigation measures for fetal livestock losses and potential changes in risk management behavior among producers. Verification requirements and program rules will determine speed and ease of access to payments for affected producers.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced May 15, 2025 by Rafael Edward Cruz · Last progress May 15, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced in Senate