USDA Resources and Assistance
USDA offers several risk management and disaster assistance options to help farmers and ranchers recover after they are impacted by severe weather, including those impacted by winter storms and extreme cold.
- Federal Crop Insurance Program
- Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
- Livestock Indemnity Program
- Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee, and Farm-raised Fish Program
- Tree Assistance Program
NRCS offers technical financial assistance for Texas winter storm damage
Additional Resources
If you come across stray livestock or down fences, contact your local sheriff’s department.
If your animal needs medical assistance (frostbite, distress, fatigue, lesions, etc.), contact your local veterinarian.
Animal Disposal
When the extreme winter weather conditions transition to recovery efforts, Texans may face the challenge of animal disposal. Please use the following resources to guide you during this recovery phase.
- Carcasses on private property, non-residential areas: Animal owners and operators are responsible for the proper disposal of their animals. To learn about common methods of non-diseased animal carcass disposal visit Disaster-Related Carcass Disposal Guide or visit the Texas Commission Environmental Quality’s website.
- Animal Carcasses in Public Areas (including residential): Animal carcasses found in public areas or rights-of-way should be reported to the local county Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to be handled through the jurisdiction’s debris management plan. Find your county’s EOC information at www.tdms.org/county.aspx.
Animal Supplies and Donations
Texas Department of Agriculture helps farmers and ranchers locate forage and hay supplies. If you need hay or would like to donate hay, visit the Hay Hotline website or call 512.787.9966.
The STAR Fund is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture and helps farmers and ranchers recover from disasters.