Livestock Disaster Assistance: Reminder of Nov. 1st ELAP Deadline for 2014 ELAP Applications

Livestock disaster program enrollment opened on April 15, 2014. These disaster programs are authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill as permanent programs and provide retroactive authority to cover losses that occurred on or after Oct. 1, 2011. Eligible producers can sign-up for the following livestock disaster assistance programs:

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)

The enrollment deadline for the 2014 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) is Nov. 1, 2014.

ELAP provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish that have losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as flooding, blizzards and wildfires. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by LFP and LIP. For 2014 program year losses, the notice of loss and an application for payment must be submitted by Nov. 1, 2014.

A request to consider losses to mechanically harvested forage due to “excessive rain” (not flood) has been submitted to Washington DC for consideration. Many producers have reported losses of mechanically harvested forage that was stacked causing damage due to mold and toxins as well as causing spontaneous combustion when trying to manage and protect as much of the stacked hay as possible. Although the request has not been approved at this time, if producers suffered losses to their stacked hay due to excessive rain, producers shall file a notice of loss by Nov. 1, 2014 to be considered eligible if the request is approved. There are no late-file provisions under the ELAP program.

Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP):

LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land or fire on federally managed land. Eligible producers must physically be located in a county affected by a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county. Producers who suffered eligible grazing losses should submit a completed CCC-853 and supporting documentation by January 30, 2015.