Ag producer aid available for loss related to weather
Agricultural operations in Wisconsin, have been significantly impacted by recent tornadoes and flooding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available, to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events.
Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center, to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.
Producers who experience livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality or sell injured livestock at a reduced price, may be eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). To participate in LIP, producers will have to provide acceptable documentation of death losses or evidence of reduced sales resulting from an eligible adverse weather event, and must submit a notice of loss to the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).
The LIP payment application and notice of loss deadline is March 3, 2025, for 2024 calendar year losses. Livestock producers who experience losses related to tornadoes, should check with their local FSA office for LIP eligibility criteria.
Meanwhile, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), provides eligible producers with compensation for feed and grazing losses. For ELAP, producers are required to complete a notice of loss and a payment application with their local FSA office, no later than the annual program application deadline, Jan. 30, 2025, for 2024 calendar year losses.
Additionally, eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers may be eligible for cost-share assistance through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP), to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes or vines. TAP complements the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or crop insurance coverage, which covers the crop but not the plants or trees in all cases.
For TAP, a program application must be filed within 90 days of the disaster event, or the date when the loss of the trees, bushes or vines is apparent.
“Once you are able to evaluate the impact on your operation, be sure to contact your local FSA county office to timely report all crop, livestock, and farm infrastructure damages and losses,” said Gene Schriefer, state executive director for FSA in Wisconsin. “To expedite FSA disaster assistance, you will likely need to provide documents, such as farm records, herd inventory, receipts, and pictures of damages or losses.”
The FSA also offers a variety of direct and guaranteed farm loans, including operating and emergency farm loans, to producers unable to secure commercial financing. Producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation, may be eligible for low interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses.
Loans can help producers replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed, cover family living expenses, or refinance farm-related debts and other needs.
