The USDA has multiple programs currently available for disaster assistance that may be useful in response to the ongoing drought conditions.
The LFP (Livestock Forage Disaster Program) "provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock and who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage of native and improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or acreage planted specifically for grazing.” Lincoln County is on the list of eligible counties due to prolonged drought conditions. Eligible livestock include alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo/ bison, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostrich, reindeer or sheep. More information on livestock and land eligibility can be found here. Contact the local USDA office to set up an appointment to discuss the application.
The LIP (Livestock Indemnity Program) exists to “provide benefits to eligible livestock owners or contract growers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by eligible loss conditions, including eligible adverse weather, eligible disease and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law, including wolves and avian predators.” More information on eligibility can be found here. Contact the local USDA office to set up an appointment to discuss the application.
Lastly, the ELAP (Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish) is meant to cover “a wide range of losses and conditions not addressed by other disaster assistance programs” and aims to provide assistance to “producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish who have suffered losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other qualifying conditions.” More information on eligibility can be found here. Contact the local USDA office to set up an appointment to discuss the application.
To explore other USDA disaster relief programs and resources, use this link. You are also welcome to call Lincoln County Extension at (704) 736-8461 and ask to speak with Bella, the Livestock & Field Crops Agent, to discuss grant opportunities.
