Texas County cattlemen who lost livestock during the recent inclement weather may find help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Elvie Younger, county executive director for USDA Farm Service Agency, said producers with losses may qualify for the Livestock Indemnity Program. It provides assistance to producers for livestock deaths that result from disaster. It compensates livestock owners and contract growers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather, such as extreme heat and cold. Eligible losses must have occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2010 and before Dec. 31, 2010.
“This program will provide livestock producers with a vital safety net to help them overcome the damaging impact of natural disasters,” Younger said.
Eligible ranchers and livestock producers must file a notice of loss within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent and an application for payment no later than Jan. 30, 2011. Livestock deaths due to eligible adverse weather events must have occurred no later than 60 calendar days from the ending date of the event. A variety of livestock are eligible.
Animals born at normal full term or near full term can qualify if both the death was the direct result of an eligible adverse weather event and the birth produced a fully developed carcass that normally would have survived under normal weather conditions. Feedlot cattle will be eligible if all other eligibility criteria are met.
When application is submitted, participants must provide documentation of livestock deaths by either verifiable documentation or producer records, in conjunction with verifiable beginning and ending inventory records or third-party certification. He advises contacting the county office for examples of documenting both normal death losses and losses due to adverse weather.
To apply or learn more, visit the Farm Services Agency office at 6726 S. U.S. 63 #A or call 417-967-2028. Additional material can be found at www.fsa.usda.gov.