Livestock, Feed Disaster Relief Programs Announced

November 19, 1999

USDA has two programs in place to compensate livestock producers for losses this year due to natural disasters. One is an indemnity program for livestock, the other is an assistance program to compensate for grazing losses.

Funding for the programs, totaling $200 million, was part of the agricultural appropriations bill approved last month by Congress. Indemnity assistance is available to producers who lost livestock due to a disaster in an area that received a presidential or secretarial disaster designation.

The sign-up period for the assistance program will vary by county. Producers will be notified of the sign-up by USDA service centers or Farm Service Agency local offices. Eligibility is based on whether a loss of grazing occurred because of a natural disaster.

For both programs, a producer's operation must be located in a country approved for the program. Both programs are to end early next year.