Ranchers and livestock producers may be eligible for assistance from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program for grazing losses incurred in 2017, an official announced this week.

Shane Seay, executive director of Limestone County’s Farm Service Agency, said Limestone met qualifying drought ratings that trigger eligibility for the disaster program on full season improved pasture, long season small grain and annual ryegrass.

LFP provides compensation to livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire. For losses due to drought, qualifying drought ratings are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor located at droughtmonitor.unl.edu.

Qualifying fires are those occurring on rangeland managed by a federal agency and the producer is prohibited by the federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to the fire.

Eligible livestock include alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period.

Applications are required for 2017 losses. To expedite applications, producers who experienced losses in 2017 are encouraged to collect records documenting their losses. Supporting documents may include information related to grazing leases or federal grazing permits, contract grower agreements and more.

“We encourage producers to contact our office for an appointment and to learn what records are required to apply for assistance,” Seay said.

For more information, contact the Limestone County FSA office at 256-232-4025. Information can also be obtained online at disaster.fsa.usda.gov.