This year, the USDA is shaking things up a bit for its livestock disaster assistance programs. They’re tweaking the rules for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). What’s the big change? Well, they’re easing up on the notice of loss requirements for 2023.
ELAP: A Bit of Breathing Room
ELAP’s there to help out producers when they’re hit by rough weather or other loss conditions – think blizzards or diseases. Usually, there’s a tight deadline to file a notice of loss, but not this year. The USDA’s giving producers until January 30, 2024, to let them know about any ELAP-eligible losses that happened in 2023. That’s a bit more time to get their ducks in a row.
LIP: Easing the Pressure
LIP’s all about helping livestock owners and contract growers who’ve lost animals beyond the usual numbers, thanks to things like bad weather or disease. This year, they’re also getting more time to submit their notice of loss. The new deadline? February 29, 2024.
Late Notices? They’ve Got That Covered
For those who might’ve missed the boat on filing their notices on time in 2023, there’s good news. The FSA county committees are going to take another look at those late-filed notices to see if the new waiver applies.
Keeping Records Straight
One thing that hasn’t changed is the need for solid record-keeping. Whether it’s documenting livestock numbers or keeping receipts for transporting feed, these details matter when filing notices of loss.
Building on Past Improvements
These 2023 changes aren’t coming out of the blue. They’re building on tweaks made since 2021, like covering extra costs for hauling feed and water during droughts. Plus, they’ve expanded the list of livestock eligible for these programs and even bumped up the payment rates for some animals under LIP.
For more details or if there’s any confusion about the status of a notice of loss or application for payment, producers can always reach out to their local FSA county office or check out the USDA’s website.
