Livestock Disaster Programs & Invasive Species Bill

I'm Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

With the passing of the farm bill both the Livestock Indemnity Payments Program and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program became permanent programs, providing retroactive authority to cover eligible livestock losses back to October 1, 2011. Beginning April 15 the USDA's Farm Service Agency will be accepting applications for these disaster programs. Eligible livestock under the LIP program include beef and dairy cattle, bison, poultry, sheep, swine and horses. For more information on eligibility and the application process producers should contact their local FSA office.

Senate Bill 6040 was passed by both the state Senate and the House of Representatives. This bill will help the state Department of Fish and Wildlife keep state waterways from becoming infested by non-native mussels, such as the zebra and quagga mussels. Steve Bollens, Director of the WSU School of the Environment explains the impact such invasive species could have.

BOLLENS: The impacts are both economic and ecological. In terms of economics they encrust basically all hard surfaces, so they have potentially very severe implications for irrigation systems, hydroelectric systems, municipal water systems, as well as recreational boats, docks. In addition to that there are concerns about the ecological impacts of these organisms. They compete with native species for food. That can have impacts throughout the entire food chain, including up to fish, salmon, birds.

Senate Bill 6040 now awaits the Governor's signature before becoming law.

That's Washington Ag Today.

I'm Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.