August 2011 Articles

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DROUGHT AID AVAILABLE FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS

DROUGHT AID AVAILABLE FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS
Livestock producers in twenty-seven Parishes may be eligible for a payment due to the drought conditions in 2011, according to Willie Cooper, State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency in Louisiana. As of April 26, 2011, the following parishes have qualified to take applications from producers based on the U S Drought Monitor:
Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Claiborne, DeSoto, Evangeline, Grant, Jackson, Jeff Davis, LaSalle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Union, Vernon, Webster, and Winn.
Parishes become eligible for the program when the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that a parish has been in a D2 intensity (severe drought) for 8 consecutive weeks, a D3 intensity (extreme drought) for one day or a D4 intensity (exceptional drought) for one day. Producers may view the U.S. Drought Monitor at the following website: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_state.htm?LA,S
If additional parishes become eligible, the applicable FSA Parish Office will make a public announcement.
The 2008 Farm Bill authorized the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) to provide compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or is planted specifically for grazing. The grazing losses must be due to a qualifying drought condition during the normal grazing period for the parish, stated Cooper.
To be eligible to earn LFP benefits, producers must have purchased 2011 Noninsured Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for the grazing land on which the eligible grazing loss occurred. Eligible livestock producers who meet the definition of “Socially Disadvantaged”, “Limited Resource”, or “Beginning Farmer” do not have to meet the NAP purchase requirement. It should be noted that for this program, the definition of beginning farmer is one who has not owned or operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years, Cooper said. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2011.
Interested producers should contact their local FSA office for more details.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., STOP 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call toll-free at 866-632-9992 (English) or 800-877-8339 (TDD) or 866-377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or 800-845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.