February 27, 2014
Drought relief for ranchers through USDA has been
expedited, with the sign-up for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) beginning
as soon as April 14, according to an article by Farm Futures available here.
The Agriculture Act of 2014 livestock disaster
assistance program includes a “livestock indemnity program (LIP) for livestock
losses from adverse weather or attacks by federally reintroduced animals; a
livestock forage program (LFP) for losses resulting from drought or fire; a
program of emergency relief to producers of livestock, honey bees and farm
raised fish not covered by the two previous programs (ELAP); and a tree
assistance program for natural disasters.”
The disaster assistance programs will allow relief from
losses to be retroactive to 2011 and will cover 75 percent of the value of
animals lost with a limit of $125,000.
Other drought relief programs are also available. Funding through the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP) is available to California and other drought-affected
areas to help farmers and ranchers implement conservation practices. The Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) will
provide assistance to most drought affected areas of California to help address
watershed impairments.
Funds are also available through USDA- Rural
Development’s Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants for rural communities
that are experiencing a significant decline in the quality or quantity of
drinking water due to drought.
In addition, California Lawmakers recently announced
new legislation that would provide $687.4 million to help communities deal with
drought and increase local water supplies, according to an article by the
Environmental New Wire available here.
For more information on disaster assistance programs,
please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
