Deadline to apply for livestock drought assistance programs is Jan. 30
Sarah Fullenkamp, County Executive Director of the Highland County Farm Service Agency, would like to remind drought-impacted livestock producers of the upcoming deadline of the 2024 Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and 2024 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).
Livestock Forage Program (LFP):
Producers of Highland County are eligible to apply for the 2024 LFP benefits on native pasture and improved pasture. LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land. You must complete a CCC-853 and the required documentation no later than Jan. 30, 2025, for 2024 losses.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP):
Drought Impacted producers in Highland County may be eligible for assistance through ELAP, for eligible livestock. You must file a notice of loss on form CCC-939 and submit an application for payment for 2024 ELAP assistance by the Jan. 30, 2025, deadline.
ELAP provides financial assistance for:
• the transportation of water to livestock;
• the above-normal cost of mileage for transporting feed to livestock; and
• the above-normal cost of transporting livestock to forage/grazing acres.
Eligible livestock include cattle, bison, goats and sheep, among others, that are maintained for commercial use and located in a county where qualifying drought conditions occur. Producers must have risk in both eligible livestock and eligible grazing land in an eligible county to qualify for ELAP assistance.
Transporting Water
Producers must be transporting water to eligible livestock on eligible grazing land where adequate livestock watering systems or facilities were in place before the drought occurred and where water transportation is not normally required.
ELAP covers costs associated with personal labor, equipment, hired labor, and contracted water transportation fees. Cost of the water itself is not covered. ELAP covers $0.10 per gallon to transport water.
Transporting Feed
ELAP provides financial assistance to livestock producers who incur above normal expenses for transporting feed to livestock during drought. The payment formula excludes the first 25 miles and any mileage over 1,000 miles.
The reimbursement rate is 60 percent of the cost above what would normally would have been incurred during the same time period in a normal (non-drought) year. The payment rate to transport feed is $6.60/ loaded mile for expenses above what would have normally been incurred.
Transporting Livestock
ELAP provides financial assistance to livestock producers who are hauling livestock to a new location for feed resources due to insufficient feed or grazing in drought-impacted areas. As with transporting feed, the payment formula for transporting livestock excludes the first 25 miles and any mileage over 1,000 miles. The reimbursement rate is 60 percent of the costs above what would normally have been incurred during the same time period in a normal (non-drought) year.
The payment rate to transport livestock is $6.60/loaded mile for expenses above what would have normally been incurred and covers hauling livestock one-way, one haul per animal reimbursement and no payment for “empty miles.”
Reporting Losses
Producers should contact FSA as soon as the loss of water or feed resources are known.
For ELAP eligibility, documentation of expenses is critical. Producers should maintain records and receipts associated with the costs of transporting water to eligible livestock, the costs of transporting feed to eligible livestock, the costs of additional feed purchases, and the costs of transporting eligible livestock to forage or other grazing acres.
Producers interested in applying for Programs will need to contact the Highland County Farm Service Agency before Jan. 30, 2025, at (937) 393-1921 to schedule an appointment.
Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.