DROUGHT RECOVERY ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS

  

Livestock producers in Austin and Washington counties are eligible for drought recovery assistance. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses due to drought.  The deadline to apply for assistance is January 30, 2024.

LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash-leased land, or fire on federally managed land. 

Producers in Austin and Washington counties can apply for 2023 LFP benefits for grazing losses on small grains, native pasture, improved pasture, mixed forage and forage sorghum. 

Livestock that qualify for LFP include alpacas, beef cattle, bison, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland.  Recently, eligibility was expanded to include additional income producing grazing animals, like horses and ostrich, that contribute to the commercial viability of an agricultural operation.

Livestock used for hunting and consumption by the owner and horses, along with other animals that are used or intended to be used for racing and wagering, remain ineligible.

To learn more, visit https://farmers.gov/recover.