USDA offers aid for producers impacted by winter weather

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering recovery assistance for livestock losses in Wyoming due to the storms and frigid weather of winter.

Assistance on offer includes both technical and financial, with the goal of helping farmers and livestock producers to recover from the impacts of adverse weather events.

“These recent winter storms have taken their toll on livestock producers in Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, leaving producers with snow removal costs as well as increased feed expenses,” said Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), in a press release.

“We stand with our producers who have worked tirelessly in these severe conditions to keep livestock fed and to protect crops from Mother Nature’s wrath. We know these storms have left damage in their wake, and I’m glad that USDA offers a strong portfolio of disaster assistance programs available to help.”

The USDA has highlighted three specific programs that can help if you have been impacted by the winter weather.

The first is the Livestock Indemnity Program, which provides benefits to livestock producers for deaths in excess of normal mortality either through adverse weather or attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild. Payments through this program are equal to 75% of the average fair market value of the livestock that was lost.

For this program, producers will need to provide documentation of death losses following an eligible adverse weather event and must submit notice of losses to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of the loss.

The second is the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program. This provides financial assistance to producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses caused by disease or certain adverse weather events such as blizzards and wildfires.

This program is intended for losses not covered by other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. It can provide compensation for feed and grazing losses and also includes costs associated with equipment rental fees for hay lifts and snow removals.

Producers will need to file a notice of loss within 30 days (or 15 days for honeybees).

Finally, the third program is the Tree Assistance Program, available to orchardists and nursery tree growers. This program provides financial assistance to replant or rehabilitate trees, bushes and vines that were damaged by natural disasters.

This program complements the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, which covers the crop, but not necessarily the trees or plants. Producers must file an application for the Tree Assistance Program within 90 days.

The USDA has also offered a reminder of its available direct and guaranteed farm loans, which are available to producers unable to secure commercial financing, as well as various emergency conservation programs.

Find more information about USDA disaster assistance on farmers.gov, including resources specifically aimed towards producers impacted by winter storms.