Daily News Update, Dec. 20, 2007

USDA issues disaster payments for crop, livestock and feed losses

Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner announced that USDA will begin issuing payments Thursday to tens of thousands of farmers and ranchers across the country who suffered losses because of natural disasters.

"Numerous agricultural producers suffered financial hardships in recent years because of floods, wildfires, tornadoes and other weather-related disasters," Conner said. "These funds will provide assistance to producers affected by these disasters."

USDA is currently processing about $1 billion in payments under the Crop Disaster Program, Livestock Compensation Program and Livestock Indemnity Program. Sign-up for these programs is ongoing.

The programs provide payments to agricultural producers who suffered crop, livestock and feed losses in 2005, 2006, and before Feb. 28, 2007. But, producers must choose one year for which to receive payments.

The Crop Disaster Program (CDP) provides benefits to farmers who suffered quantity and quality losses from natural disasters and related conditions that happened in 2005, 2006 and for 2007 crops if the crop was planted or prevented from being planted before Feb. 28, 2007.

At this time, USDA is only compensating producers for quantity losses under this program. Payments for the quality losses will not be distributed until early 2008, after sign-up for quality loss.

The Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) compensates livestock producers for feed losses resulting from natural disasters that occurred between Jan.1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007.

Producers who suffered losses caused by blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into 2007 are eligible. Producers in primary or contiguous counties that were declared secretarial disaster areas or counties declared presidential disaster areas between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, are also eligible.

Additionally, USDA will soon issue more than $11 million to Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi and Oklahoma through the LCP Catfish Grant Program. Alabama will receive $3,121,47; Florida $34,879.25; Idaho $6,968.00; Mississippi $8,123,840.88; and Oklahoma $5,651.10.

USDA also approved the following six states to receive funds through the Catfish Grant Program: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas. USDA will distribute funds to the six states after they conduct sign-up and submit requests for payments.

The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) compensates livestock producers for livestock losses between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, that were caused by natural disasters, including blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into 2007.

Producers in primary or contiguous counties that were declared secretarial disaster areas or counties declared presidential disaster areas between Jan.1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, are also eligible.

The "U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007," signed into law on May 25, 2007, by President Bush authorizes CDP, LCP and LIP. USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers the programs.

Farmers and ranchers can apply to receive benefits through these and other disaster programs by visiting their local FSA service center. Find more information about FSA disaster programs online at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.