USDA’s Farm Service Agency announces changes to disaster programs

Many Farm Service Agency (FSA) disaster programs have been reformed under the Agricultural Act of 2014 that was signed into law on Feb. 7.

“We’ve been very lucky in Washington State that we have not experienced some of the disasters currently affecting other states,” Chris Holt, CED said. “However, with the new Farm Bill, these programs are now permanent and will be there for our farmers and ranchers if they do need help in future years.”

The current disaster programs authorized under the new Farm Bill include the following:

ELAP (Emergency Livestock Assistance Program) provides financial assistance for the loss of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish due to disease, adverse weather or other conditions such as wildfires

LIP (Livestock Indemnity Program) provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law.

LFP (Livestock Forage Program) provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire on federally managed lands.

TAP (Tree Assistance Program) provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.

2012 SURE (Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program) provides financial assistance for crop losses in counties with a declared disaster event that occurred prior to Oct. 1, 2011, that affected the 2012 crop.

For more information, producers are encouraged to review the 2014 Farm Bill Fact Sheet and check out the LIP, LFP, ELAP, TAP and SURE fact sheets online at http://www.disaster.fsa.usda.gov or visit any USDA Service Center for additional information.