DROUGHT DISASTER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR WASHINGTON, AUSTIN CO. LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS

  

Livestock producers in Washington and Austin Counties may be eligible for assistance from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program for grazing losses this year due to drought.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in Washington and Austin Counties announced that the two counties recently met qualifying drought ratings that trigger program eligibility.

Eligible livestock include alpacas, beef cattle, dairy cattle, deer, equine, goats, llamas, sheep, and other animals that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period.

An application for payment and supporting documentation are required.  To speed up the application process, producers are encouraged to collect records documenting their losses.  Applications for 2019 losses will be accepted through January 30, 2020.

Qualifying drought ratings are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor, at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu.  More information is available at http://farmers.gov/recover.