08/29/07 Disaster program sign ups coming

Washington Ag August 29, 2007 Eligible producers will soon be able to sign up for USDA disaster programs for livestock and crops. Glen Keppe of USDA's Farm Service Agency says three programs will offer disaster assistance to farmers and ranchers suffering losses due to natural disasters. Keppe: "The Livestock Compensation Program, LCP, and the Livestock Indemnity Program, LIP, sign up will begin September 10th of this year. And then eligible farmers that have a crop disaster program will begin on October 15th." Keppe says all three individual programs have something in common. Keppe: "Well the thing that is true about all three of the programs is it is for years 2005, 2007 and up to February 28th of 2007. So a producer, if he had multiple years that he had a loss, he would have to choose one year to get the benefit." According to the Farm Service Agency all three programs will be implemented in all Washington counties. A later sign up will be announced for crop losses related to crop quality. For additional information about the Livestock Compensation Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program or the Crop Disaster Program check the Farm Service Agency website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov or call your local Farm Service Agency office. I'm Bob Hoff.