Livestock Producers Urged to Enroll in Disaster Assistance Program by Oct. 1

The deadline for livestock producers who have endured disaster-related losses to to enroll in the disaster assistance program through the Farm Service Agency is October 1st. Livestock producers that have experienced grazing losses since October 2011 and may be eligible for benefits but have not yet contacted their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office should do so as soon as possible.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Associate Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus shares more details.
Bacus: “Under the livestock disaster assistance programs there are a couple of different programs you can sign up for. Obviously with the livestock indemnity program and with the tree program, those applications need to be completed by September 30th. But those who are interested in signing up for the livestock forage program, they need to schedule an appointment with their Farm Service Agency by September 30th. If they fail to do that, then they will suffer from the 7.3 percent cut in the payments.”
The Budget Control Act passed by Congress in 2011 requires USDA to implement reductions of 7.3 percent to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program  in the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2014. However, producers seeking LFP support who have scheduled appointments with their local FSA office before Oct. 1, even if the appointment occurs after Oct. 1, will not see reductions in the amount of disaster relief they receive.