The U.S. Department of Agriculture is encouraging producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses to act to secure assistance by Sept. 30, 2014, when congressionally mandated payment reductions will take place.

Livestock producers who have experienced grazing losses since October 2011 and who may be eligible for benefits but have not yet contacted their Farm Service Agency 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 percent 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 an FSA office before Oct. 1, even if the appointment occurs after Oct. 1, will not see reductions in the amount of disaster relief they receive.

Producers who act before Oct. 1, 2014, lock in the current zero percent sequestration rate.

As an additional aid, the Farm Service Agency has developed an online registration that enables farmers and ranchers to put their names on an electronic list before the deadline. This is an alternative to visiting or contacting the county office.

Producers who already contacted the county office and have an appointment scheduled need do nothing more.

“In just four months since disaster assistance enrollments began, we’ve processed 240,000 applications to help farmers and ranchers who suffered losses,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The Livestock Indemnity Program, Tree Assistance Program and Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program Frost Freeze payments will also be cut by 7.3 percent on Oct. 1, 2014. However, applications for these programs must be fully completed by Sept. 30. FSA offices will prioritize these applications, but as the full application process can take several days or more to complete, producers are encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible.

The Livestock Forage Disaster Program compensates eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire between Oct. 1, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2014. Eligible livestock includes 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. Producers forced to liquidate their livestock may also be eligible for program benefits.

Additionally, the 2014 Farm Bill eliminated the risk management purchase requirement. Livestock producers are no longer required to purchase coverage under the federal crop insurance program or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program to be eligible for Livestock Forage Disaster Program assistance.

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