USDA press release
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that
ranchers who have signed up for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) have
begun receiving disaster payments for forage losses due to severe drought.
Producers are reminded that LFP sign up for 2008 losses ends Dec. 10, 2009, and
Jan. 30, 2010, for 2009 losses.
“These payments will help producers recover from financial setbacks due to
drought,” said Vilsack. “This program is just one of our disaster programs,
which help stabilize the livestock industry when disasters occur.”
The first LFP payments were issued to ranchers in two of the hardest hit
disaster counties in the nation: Wilson and Guadalupe counties in Texas. These
payments will compensate ranchers who suffered extreme drought losses in 2008
and 2009. This assistance will help ranchers provide feed for their livestock
this fall. Producers in all counties that have suffered a severe, extreme or
exceptional drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor are encouraged to
visit their local FSA county office to apply for assistance under LFP.
LFP provides payments to eligible livestock producers that have suffered
livestock grazing losses due to qualifying drought or fire. Eligible livestock
under LFP include beef cattle, alpacas, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer,
elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep and swine. Losses due
to drought and qualifying drought ratings are determined using the U.S. Drought
Monitor located at www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html
