Farmers and ranchers who plan to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs are encouraged to register in advance and report farm records and business structure changes to a local FSA office.
According to the agency, enrollment for the disaster programs authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014—including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)—will begin by April 15.
To help expedite implementation of the programs, new farmers or farmers who have not reported farm records to the agency should provide the appropriate information. FSA recommends submitting documentation of recently bought, sold or rented land. Payment limits may be impacted if farmers and ranchers who have recently changed business structures—formed a partnership or LLC—have not updated their information with a local FSA office.
To be eligible for assistance through one of the four disaster programs, farmers and ranchers who suffered livestock, livestock grazing, honeybee, farm-raised fish or tree/vine losses for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 are encouraged to report farm records.
Click here for further information about the disaster programs and farm bill implementation.