The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering recovery assistance for livestock losses in Wyoming, in addition to Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Agricultural operations in Wyoming were significantly impacted by recent snowstorms, prompting Governor Gordon to request disaster designation for all 23 counties. The USDA is now extending technical and financial assistance to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events.

Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available.

“We stand with our producers who have worked tirelessly in these severe conditions to keep livestock fed and to protect crops from Mother Nature’s wrath,” Robert Bonnie, under secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), said in a press release. “We know these storms have left damage in their wake, and I’m glad that USDA offers a strong portfolio of disaster assistance programs available to help.”

Livestock Indemnity Program

Producers who experience livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality may be eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) after providing documentation and submitting a notice of loss to a local FSA office within 30 calendar days.

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program

The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program(ELAP) provides eligible producers with compensation for feed and grazing losses, including costs associated with equipment rental fees for hay lifts and snow removal. For ELAP, producers need to file a notice of loss within 30 days and honeybee losses within 15 days.

Farm loans

A variety of direct and guaranteed farm loans are also available, including operating and emergency farm loans, to producers unable to secure commercial financing. 

Risk management

Producers who have risk protection through Federal Crop Insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) should report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or FSA office.

For NAP covered crops, a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) must be filed within 15 days of the loss becoming apparent, except for hand-harvested crops which should be reported within 72 hours. A recent policy change simplifies the NAP application process for underserved producers.

Conservation

The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) are available to assist landowners and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to restore fencing, damaged farmland or forests.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) can help producers plan and implement conservation practices on land impacted by natural disasters.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is always available to provide technical assistance during the recovery process by assisting producers to plan and implement conservation practices on farms, ranches and working forests impacted by natural disasters.

Source - https://buckrail.com