Livestock assistance funding available
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
February 8, 2017
The USDA Farm Service Agency has several programs available to assist livestock producers impacted by adverse winter conditions.
The Emergency Livestock Assistance Program can provide assistance for producers who have to purchase additional feed (above normal quantities) due to severe winter conditions. Documentation is required, such as the retention of receipts for these purchases. Assistance is also available for equipment hire for producers who have to hire equipment/snow plows to access and manage their herds – whether it’s to get feed in to herds, or to get their livestock out. This program can also be used to pay for transportation costs for feed.
The Livestock Indemnity Program provides benefits to commercial livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government. LIP payments are equal to 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock. Producers applying for the program will need to provide documentation of death losses.
It is important that livestock producers interested in these assistance programs to contact the FSA now to learn specific program requirements. Please contact Jennifer Dutton at the Sublette/Sweetwater County FSA office at (307) 362-3062 extension 2 for more information. The office is short-staffed at the moment, so if Jennifer doesn’t answer the phone, please leave a message so she can return your call.
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