Carter County livestock producers reminded to report forage losses by Feb. 1

Carter County U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Samantha Wright reminds livestock producers who suffered grazing losses that occurred throughout 2020 due to drought to apply for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) by Feb. 1, 2021.

LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately-owned or leased land or fire on federally-managed land. Producers in Carter County are eligible to apply for 2020 LFP benefits due to drought on small grain, native pasture, and improved pasture. Livestock producers are encouraged to contact the Carter County FSA Office in Ekalaka with any questions regarding specific forage crops that are eligible.

"Prolonged drought conditions have created a need for livestock disaster assistance programs in Carter County," Wright said. "I encourage all affected livestock producers to contact the Carter County FSA Office to schedule an appointment to submit an application for the program before the Feb. 1 deadline."

Livestock producers must complete the LFP application and required supporting documentation no later than Feb. 1, 2021, for losses that occurred during the 2020 grazing period.

Eligible livestock includes alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the grazing period.

Visit http://www.usda.gov/disaster to learn more about FSA disaster assistance programs or contact the Carter County FSA Office in Ekalaka at 406-775-6355, ext. 2. To find a local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

In a continuing effort to better serve the public, USDA has partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other disaster-focused organizations to develop the central resource for disaster related materials. This knowledge base is a collection of disaster-related resources that are powered by agents with subject-matter expertise. Visit the USDA Disaster Resource Center website to find additional USDA disaster information and assistance.