CLINTON, La. - eTradeWire -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Reginald Ellis in East/West Feliciana Parishes recently announced that FSA is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses due to drought. The deadline to apply for 2023 LFP assistance is January 30, 2024.

LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land or fire on federally managed land. For LFP, qualifying drought intensity levels are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor. Producers in East/West Feliciana Parishes are eligible to apply for 2023 LFP benefits for grazing losses on native pasture, improved pasture or improved mixed forage.

Livestock eligible for LFP include alpacas, beef cattle, bison, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland. Recently, FSA updated LFP policy to expand program eligibility to include additional income producing grazing animals, like horses and ostrich, that contribute to the commercial viability of an agricultural operation. Livestock used for hunting and consumption by the owner and horses and other animals that are used or intended to be used for racing and wagering remain ineligible.

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As a reminder, producers who want to participate in many USDA programs including disaster assistance programs like LFP, must file timely acreage reports by filling out the FSA-578 form to remain eligible for program benefits. Livestock producers interested in applying LFP should contact East/West Feliciana FSA at 225-683-8955 with any questions about the eligibility of specific livestock and forage crops.

More information on USDA disaster assistance is available at farmers.gov/recover. For assistance in determining which state or federal agency to contact, please reach out to Arlene Culpepper of the Feliciana Soil & Water Conservation District and we will be glad to assist you. Our phone number is 225-683-8955 ext. 3. Email is felicianaswcd@gmail.com