Livestock Loss Insurance
Richard Rush, Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Idaho announced that FSA is now accepting late-filed applications for 2008 and 2009 livestock, honeybees, and/or farm-raised fish losses through May 5, 2010. This program provides emergency relief for losses due to feed or water shortages, adverse weather and other conditions such as wildfires or wolf depredation losses that are not adequately addressed by other disaster programs. Although the majority of livestock losses, in Idaho, cannot be attributed to wolf depredation, there has been a 22% increase in investigations related to wolf complaints in 2009, according to USDA Wildlife Services. ELAP eligibility provisions have also been amended for honeybee, and farm-raised fish producers. The modifications include allowing honeybee and farm-raised fish producers who did not replace their honeybees or fish that were lost due to a natural disaster to be eligible for ELAP payments based on the fair market value of the honeybees or fish that were lost.
Jeff Mitchell Farm Program Specialist says the paperwork is not difficult: “They provide us documentation that shows us the beginning and ending inventories and documentation of the actual loss.” And what about when the payments will be made?
Sign-ups for Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) on losses that took place in calendar years 2008 and 2009 ended on Dec.10, 2009, and on Feb. 1, 2010, respectively. However, because of changes to program eligibility provisions, USDA has extended the sign-up period for losses incurred during that period. Wolf depredation was determined to be an eligible loss condition under ELAP for livestock death losses occurring on or after January 1, 2008.
According to Rush, ELAP assistance is for losses not covered under other Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance programs established by the 2008 Farm Bill, specifically the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program. ELAP is being implemented to fill in the gap and provide assistance under other conditions determined to be appropriate, such as livestock losses from wolves in the Western US.
In addition, the requirements to document losses for honeybee producers who suffered losses due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) were modified to allow documentation by an independent third party for losses in 2010 through Sept. 31, 2011. Producers can self certify losses due to CCD for 2008 and 2009.
