Today, September 14, 2009, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that livestock producers can now apply for “benefits under provisions of the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP),” according to a news release issued by the USDA today.
Both of these permanent disaster programs were authorized as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. They replace “previous ad-hoc disaster assistance programs . . .” Funding for the programs is provided through the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund.
In the department news release Secretary Vilsack states, "President Obama and I are committed to meeting the needs of those producers who have suffered devastating losses from natural disasters . . . These programs ensure that producers who have suffered agriculture losses receive the critical disaster assistance needed to remain financially solvent and help them continue on in their operations."
LFP funding is available to livestock producers “who have suffered livestock grazing losses due to qualifying drought or fire.” Drought losses must have occurred on native or “improved” pastureland with permanent “vegetative cover or a crop planted specifically for grazing for covered livestock due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land in the county.” Likewise, fire losses must have occurred on rangeland managed by a federal agency “if the eligible livestock producer is prohibited by the federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to a qualifying fire.” Qualifying drought ratings can be determined by using the U.S. Drought Monitor which can be accessed by click here.
The ELAP funding is available to eligible producers who suffered losses as a result of a disease, adverse weather conditions, or other natural environmental occurrences (e.g. wildfires). “ELAP assistance is for losses not covered under other Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance programs established by the 2008 Farm Bill, specifically LFP, the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE).”
Producers must have suffered losses that occurred on or after January 1, 2008 and before October 1, 2011 to be eligible. The limitation is $100,000 per crop year. The limitation is per “‘person.’” “Furthermore, individuals or entities are ineligible for payment under ELAP or LFP for 2008 if their average Adjusted Gross Income for 2005, 2006 and 2007 exceeds $2.5 million. For 2009 through 2011, an average adjusted gross nonfarm income limitation of $500,000 applies and is determined using the three taxable years that precede the most immediately preceding complete taxable year (for 2009, the applicable years are 2005, 2006 and 2007).”
To read the USDA news release on these programs click here.
Both of these permanent disaster programs were authorized as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. They replace “previous ad-hoc disaster assistance programs . . .” Funding for the programs is provided through the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund.
In the department news release Secretary Vilsack states, "President Obama and I are committed to meeting the needs of those producers who have suffered devastating losses from natural disasters . . . These programs ensure that producers who have suffered agriculture losses receive the critical disaster assistance needed to remain financially solvent and help them continue on in their operations."
LFP funding is available to livestock producers “who have suffered livestock grazing losses due to qualifying drought or fire.” Drought losses must have occurred on native or “improved” pastureland with permanent “vegetative cover or a crop planted specifically for grazing for covered livestock due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land in the county.” Likewise, fire losses must have occurred on rangeland managed by a federal agency “if the eligible livestock producer is prohibited by the federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to a qualifying fire.” Qualifying drought ratings can be determined by using the U.S. Drought Monitor which can be accessed by click here.
The ELAP funding is available to eligible producers who suffered losses as a result of a disease, adverse weather conditions, or other natural environmental occurrences (e.g. wildfires). “ELAP assistance is for losses not covered under other Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance programs established by the 2008 Farm Bill, specifically LFP, the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE).”
Producers must have suffered losses that occurred on or after January 1, 2008 and before October 1, 2011 to be eligible. The limitation is $100,000 per crop year. The limitation is per “‘person.’” “Furthermore, individuals or entities are ineligible for payment under ELAP or LFP for 2008 if their average Adjusted Gross Income for 2005, 2006 and 2007 exceeds $2.5 million. For 2009 through 2011, an average adjusted gross nonfarm income limitation of $500,000 applies and is determined using the three taxable years that precede the most immediately preceding complete taxable year (for 2009, the applicable years are 2005, 2006 and 2007).”
To read the USDA news release on these programs click here.
Posted: 09/14/09
