Livestock Forage Disaster Program
The Secretary of Agriculture (henceforth the Secretary) has the authority to use sums from the Trust Fund to provide compensation to livestock producers who suffered grazing losses
For drought, the losses must have occurred because of a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or is planted to a crop planted specifically for grazing covered livestock.
For fire, LFP provides payments to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses on range land managed by a Federal agency if the eligible livestock producer is prohibited by the Federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed range land because of a qualifying fire.
Eligible grazing losses must have occurred on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011.
The eligible grazing losses must occur within the same calendar year for which benefits are being requested.
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The assistance can be used to provide financial assistance for grazing losses due to drought equal to one, two, or three times the monthly payment rate to eligible livestock producers if the eligible livestock producer owns or leases a grazing land or pastureland that is physically located in a county that is rated by the U. S. Drought Monitor as D2 Drought (severe drought) for at least eight consecutive weeks, D3 (extreme drought) at any time or for four weeks (not necessarily four consecutive weeks), or a D4 (exceptional drought at anytime) during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county.
Eligible livestock producers are eligible to receive assistance if grazing losses due to a fire on Federally managed land if the grazing loss is on range-land managed by a Federal agency such as the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs or Tribal government and the eligible producer is prohibited by the Federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock and/or normal permitted days.
Livestock producers are eligible to receive assistance if grazing losses due to drought or fire occur on or after January 1, 2008 and before October 1, 2011.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
An eligible applicant or livestock producer may use assistance for grazing or fire losses for any specific purpose.
Eligible covered livestock includes cattle (including dairy cattle); buffalo/beefalo/ alpacas, deer, elk, emu, equine, goats, llamas, poultry; reindeer, sheep; swine; and other livestock as determined by the Secretary.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Beneficiary eligibility is extended to an eligible livestock producer who is an owner, cash share lessee, a contract grower of covered livestock that provides the pasture land or grazing land (including cash-leased pasture land or grazing land for the livestock) that is physically located in a county affected by drought. The term "eligible livestock producer" does not include an owner, cash or share lessee, or contract grower of livestock that rents or leases pasture land or grazing land owned by another person on a rate-of-gain basis. The eligible producer on a farm must have during the 60 calendar days before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire, owned, cashed or share leased, or been a contract grower of eligible covered livestock.
An eligible livestock producer must also be an individual or entity that is a citizen of the United States (U.S.); a resident alien; a partnership of citizens of the U.S.; or a corporation, limited liability corporation, or other farm organizational structure organized under State law.
An eligible livestock producer shall only be eligible for assistance if the livestock producer meets the risk management purchase requirement by obtaining a policy or plan of insurance or filed the required paperwork and paid the administrative fee by the applicable State application closing deadline date for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for the grazing land crop that incurred the loss for which assistance is being requested. For 2008 only, a waiver was authorized to allow producers to pay a buy-in fee or receive a waiver by September 16, 2008, for grazing land for which the producer did not obtain a policy or plan of insurance for 2008.
The risk management purchase requirement will be waived for producers who are considered to be a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, limited resource farmer or rancher, or beginning farmer or rancher.
Credentials/Documentation
A livestock producer must certify that they have a grazing loss due to drought or fire. There is no minimum loss percentage required by the producer.
A livestock producer must provide an FSA-925 (LFP application for payment) in there administrative FSA county office along with required supporting documents.
Supporting Documentation includes:
CCC-502 Farm Operating Plan for Payment Eligibility Review, applicable for 2008 calendar year
CCC-901 Members Information 2009 and Subsequent Years, applicable for 2009 and subsequent years
AD-1026 - Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification, applicable for 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011
CCC-526 Payment Eligibility Average Adjusted Gross Income Certification for 2008
CCC-926 Average Adjusted Gross Income Statement for 2009 and Subsequent Years
Copy of contract grower contract
Report of acreage for the grazing land is owned or leased
Evidence that grazing land is owned or leased
Evidence of meeting risk management purchase requirement or an approved waiver. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedures
Payment Eligibility for Losses Due To Drought
An eligible livestock producer will be eligible to receive payments for grazing losses for qualifying drought equal to one, two, or three times the monthly payment rate. Total LFP payments to an eligible producer in a calendar year for grazing losses due to a qualifying drought will not exceed three monthly payments for the same livestock. To be eligible for a one month payment, the eligible livestock producer must own or lease grazing land or pastureland that is physically located in a county that is rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having at least a D2 severe drought (intensity) in any area of the county for at least 8 consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland in the county. To be eligible for a two month payment, the eligible livestock producer must own or lease grazing land or pastureland that is physically located in a county that is rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having at least a D3 extreme drought (intensity) in any area of the county at any time during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county. To be eligible for a three month payment, the eligible livestock producer must own or lease grazing land or pastureland that is physically located in a county that is rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having at lease a D3 extreme drought (intensity) in any area of the county for at least four weeks during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county, or is rated as having a D4 exceptional drought (intensity) in any area of the county at any time during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county. The monthly payment rate for grazing losses due to a qualifying drought for producers who suffer grazing losses on grazing lands located in a county due to drought will be equal to 60 percent of the lesser of the monthly feed cost for all covered livestock owned or leased by the eligible livestock producer or the monthly feed cost calculated using the normal carrying capacity of the eligible grazing land of the eligible livestock producer. If an eligible livestock producer sold or otherwise disposed of covered livestock due to a qualifying drought in one or bother of the two production year immediately preceding the current production year, the payment rate is 80 percent of the monthly payment rate.
Payment Eligibility For Losses Due To Fire
Livestock producers who suffer grazing losses on grazing lands managed by a Federal agency due to a fire, will receive a payment equal to 50 percent of the monthly feed cost for the number of days the producer is prohibited from grazing the managed range-land because of the qualifying fire, not to exceed 180 calendar days. The payment begins on the first day the permitted livestock are prohibited from grazing the eligible range-land and ending on the earlier of the last day of the Federal lease of the eligible livestock producer or the day that would make the period a 180 calendar day period.
Deadlines
Dec 10, 2009 To apply for LFP, producers that suffer eligible grazing losses during 2008 must file FSA-925 and required supporting documentation by no later that December 10, 2009. Producers that suffer eligible grazing losses during 2009 and later years must submit a completed FSA-925 and supporting documentation to the administrative FSA county office no later than 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the grazing loss occurs. Late filed applications will not be accepted.
Authorization
The Food Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 110-246.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not Applicable.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
There are no restrictions place on the time permitted to spend the money awarded. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Not Applicable.
Audits
Not Applicable.
Records
No Data Available.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-5531-0-3-351.
Obigations
(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 09 $0; FY 10 $263,262,939; FY 11 $409,000,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No Data Available.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Not Applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices.
Headquarters Office
Scotty Abbott LFP Program Manager
USDA, FSA, Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs
Production, Emergencies, & Compliance Division (PECD)
1400 Independence Ave SW Stop 0517
, Washington, District of Columbia 20250 Email: scotty.abbott@wdc.usda.gov Phone: 202-720-7997 Fax: 202-690-2130
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not Applicable.
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