Vol. 27, Issue 12, May 10, 2011 – PDF version
Jose G. Peña, Texas AgriLife Extension Economist-Management
USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently reminded crop and livestock producers that have recently experienced severe weather related damage or losses, such as livestock deaths from wildfires and/or reduced grazing due to drought, that disaster assistance programs may be available to assist with recovery. According to an April 28, 2011 news release, among the key programs available to address impacts from disasters are the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), the Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program.
Agricultural producers are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) to obtain specific qualifying details about any of these programs. The following are brief highlights of two of these programs authorized by Farm Bill 2008.
Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)
The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses from drought. Losses must have occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011 for covered livestock on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or is planted specifically for grazing.
Eligible livestock include alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep or swine that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period or when the federal agency excluded the livestock producer from grazing the normally permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to fire.
Drought Monitor
The U.S. Drought Monitor is used as the basis of payments. Monthly payments vary, depending on the type of livestock, from about $8.64/head for sheep/goats to about $34.57/adult beef livestock. The number of payment varies, depending on the number of weeks under a severe drought, drought extreme or exceptional drought as reported in the U.S. Drought monitor.
An eligible livestock producer that owns or leases grazing land or pastureland physically located in a county rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a:
- D2 (severe drought) intensity in any area of the county for at least eight consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period is eligible to receive assistance in an amount equal to one monthly payment.
- D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area of the county at any time during the normal grazing period is eligible to receive assistance in an amount equal to two monthly payments.
- D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area of the county for at least four weeks during the normal grazing period or is rated D4 (exceptional drought) intensity at any time during the normal grazing period is eligible to receive assistance in an amount equal to three monthly payments.
(NOTE: Most of the counties in Texas are eligible for a D3 declaration.)
See http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/lfp_2011_pfs.pdf, for more specific details about this program.
Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather that occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011, including losses because of hurricanes, floods, blizzards, disease, wildfires, extreme heat, and extreme cold. To be eligible for LIP, a livestock producer must have legally owned the eligible livestock on the day the livestock died. Payments vary from about $58.89/head for slaughter goats/kids to about $971/adult bull.
See http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/lip2011_158c020211.pdf, for more specific details about this program.
Sincere appreciation is expressed to Nancy Conduit, FSA, Uvalde County, for her contribution to and review of this article.