County livestock producers may qualify for Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). (wikipedia.org | “Grass Fed beef”)

By Staff Reports

Submitted by the Rainsville USDA Office

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — October 5, 2016 – The County Executive Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in DeKalb County, Beverly Noles, announced that ranchers and livestock producers may be eligible for assistance from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses incurred in 2016.

According to Noles, “DeKalb County recently met qualifying drought ratings that ‘trigger’ eligibility for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program on full season improved pasture and sorghum forage.”

The Livestock Forage Disaster Program 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 http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html.  

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, poultry, reindeer, sheep or swine that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period.

Applications are required for 2016 losses. To expedite applications, producers who experienced losses in 2016 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. Applications will be accepted through January 30, 2017 for 2016 losses.

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

For more information, contact the DeKalb County FSA office at 256-638-2181 Ext 2.  Information can also be obtained online at: disaster.fsa.usda.gov.