USDA processes 106,000 disaster assistance payments, so far

Farmers and ranchers began signing up April 15 for disaster assistance programs that were reestablished and strengthened by the 2014 Farm Bill.

In a 12-week progress update on the programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has processed 106,000 payments to farmers in 40 states who suffered livestock and grazing losses between October 2011 and the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill, according to the USDA.

USDA disaster programs include the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP).

Program sign-up deadlines are Aug. 1, 2014 for ELAP, Jan. 30, 2015 for both LIP and LFP and Feb. 2, 2015 for TAP.

For more information, farmers and ranchers may review the 2014 Farm Bill Fact Sheet, and the LIP, LFP, ELAP and TAP fact sheets online, or visit any local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.