The deadline is Dec. 10 for eligible ranchers and livestock producers to apply for benefits under the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, according to Shane Seay, Limestone County executive director of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.
The benefits are for losses incurred during the calendar year 2008. For losses incurred during the 2009 calendar year, the deadline to apply is Jan. 23, 2010.
The benefits cover those who have lost grazing material to drought or fire. Fire losses apply only to federally managed rangeland. For losses due to drought, ratings are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor, which can be accessed at www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html.
To qualify for LFP benefits, the applicant must have purchased coverage through FSA’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance program or the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Insurance Program offered through the Risk Management Agency.
Producers who meet the requirements of a socially disadvantaged, limited resource or beginning farmer or rancher as defined in the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 do not have to meet the Risk Management Purchase Requirement and are not required to have paid the buy-in fee.
For more information, call the FSA office at (256) 232-4025 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.
