Dateline: September 13, 2007

USDA sets sign-up dates for disaster benefits

Bruce Ferguson, Executive Director for the Donley County Farm Service Agency this week announced that eligible ranchers and other livestock producers can apply to receive benefits under the Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) beginning September 10, 2007. 

Eligible farmers can sign-up for the Crop Disaster Program (CDP) beginning October 15, 2007, if they suffered quantity losses to their crops.  USDA will announce and conduct CDP sign-up for quality losses as soon as possible.

The three ad hoc disaster programs provide benefits to farmers and ranchers who suffered losses caused by natural disasters in recent years.

“Between 2005 and early 2007, agricultural producers across the country experienced financial difficulties as the result of devastating drought, floods, blizzards, tornadoes and other natural disasters,” said Ferguson.  “I am pleased to announce that FSA is delivering these benefits to America’s farmers and ranchers at a time when many need it the most.” 

Livestock Compensation provides benefits to livestock producers for feed losses occurring between January1, 2005, and February 28, 2007, due to a natural disaster - including producers who suffered losses resulting from blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into January 2007. 

Livestock producers may elect to receive compensation for calendar year 2007 grazing season losses that are attributable to wildfire natural disasters occurring during the applicable period as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.  Producers in primary counties declared secretarial disaster areas or certain counties declared presidential disaster areas between January 1, 2005, and February 28, 2007, are eligible as are producers located in counties contiguous to those counties.  Also, producers in a primary (or contiguous) county that received an Administrator’s Physical Loss Notice directly associated with a disaster declaration made by President Bush may also be eligible. 

Livestock Indemnity compensates livestock producers for livestock losses between January 1, 2005, and February 28, 2007, that resulted from natural disasters, including losses due to blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into January 2007.  Producers in primary counties declared secretarial disaster areas or certain counties declared presidential disaster areas between January 1, 2005, and February 28, 2007, are eligible as are producers located in counties contiguous to those counties.  Also, producers in a primary (or contiguous) county that received an Administrator’s Physical Loss Notice directly associated with a disaster declaration made by President Bush may also be eligible. 

CDP provides benefits to farmers who suffered quantity and quality losses to 2005, 2006, or 2007 crops from natural disasters if the crop was planted before February 28, 2007, or, in the case of prevented plantings, for crops that would have been planted before February 28, 2007.    Producers may apply for benefits for losses to multiple commodities as long as the losses occurred in the same crop year.  Only producers who obtained crop insurance coverage or coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for the year of loss will be eligible for CDP benefits.  Producers must have suffered quantity losses in excess of 35 percent to be eligible for CDP.

Ferguson emphasized, “For LIP, LCP and CDP, producers incurring a loss in more than one of the 2005, 2006 or 2007 qualifying years must choose only one year for which they want to apply for benefits.”

In an effort to expedite the application process and provide efficient, quality customer service, Ferguson recommends that producers call their respective FSA County Office to schedule an appointment for disaster program assistance.

For detailed application and eligibility information, please contact the Donley County FSA at 806-874-3561.  Interested producers can also access LCP, LIP and CDP fact sheets on FSA’s Web site, http://www.fsa.usda.gov; click on Disaster Assistance Programs.