US livestock farmers receive disaster aid

The USDA has made more than US$175 million in disaster payments to domestic livestock producers after implementing two new programmes in 2009.

US farmers and ranchers deserve efficient and effective assistance programmes to help get through natural disasters, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

While the previous ad hoc disaster assistance too often was too little and too late, the USDA is beginning to achieve the goal of helping producers recover losses rapidly and more thoroughly because of these new programmes, he said.

The Livestock Indemnity Programme (L.I.P.) provides payments to eligible livestock owners and contract growers who suffered eligible livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event including hurricanes, floods, blizzards, disease, wildfires and extreme heat and cold. Eligible livestock under L.I.P. include beef cattle, alpacas, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, lambs, poultry, reindeer, sheep and swine.

The Livestock Forage Disaster Programme (L.F.P.) provides payments to eligible livestock producers who have suffered livestock grazing losses due to qualifying drought or fire. Eligible livestock under L.F.P. include beef cattle, alpacas, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep and swine.