Market News & Headlines >> USDA Urges Livestock Disaster Signup

USDA is encouraging livestock producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses to act to secure assistance by Sept. 30, as payment cuts mandated by Congress will affect producers who have not acted before that date.

Livestock producers that have experienced grazing losses since October 2011 and may be eligible for benefits but have not yet contacted their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office should do so as soon as possible.

The Budget Control Act passed by Congress in 2011 requires USDA to implement reductions of 7.3% to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) in the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2014. However, producers seeking LFP support who have scheduled appointments with their local FSA office before Oct. 1 will not see reductions in the amount of disaster relief they receive, even if the appointment occurs after Oct.1.

As an additional aid to qualified producers applying for LFP, the FSA has developed an online registration that enables farmers and ranchers to put their names on an electronic list before the deadline to avoid reductions in their disaster assistance. This is an alternative to visiting or contacting the county office.

To place a name on the Livestock Forage Disaster Program list online, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/disaster-register. This is an external link or third-party site outside of the USDA website. Producers who already contacted their county FSA office and have an appointment scheduled need do nothing more.