U.S. Department of Agriculture in Georgia to Host June 15 Meeting on Resources for Livestock Producers

Learn more about disaster recovery, credit, conservation and risk management program options

ATHENS, Ga., June 8, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Georgia State Executive Director, Arthur Tripp, invites livestock producers to attend a meeting to discuss available federal resources. Tripp, FSA staff, and representatives from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) will provide an overview of current USDA programs and funding opportunities of specific interest to livestock producers. The meeting is free and open to the public. Producers can attend virtually or in person at the UGArden classroom, 2500 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA 30605 on June 15, 2023, at 1 p.m. Producers who plan to attend the event in person or who would like to request the virtual meeting link should email Ansley.Hatcher@usda.gov. On-site workshop space is limited and will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Agriculture is an inherently risky industry. No matter a producer’s experience, education, or training, there are many unpredictable factors that can impact their operations. Whether it’s adverse weather events, market fluctuations, or predation losses, FSA and our sister USDA agencies—NRCS and RMA—are here to help livestock producers build resilience, manage risk, access capital and recover from difficult circumstances they may face through no fault of their own,” said Tripp. “Through this workshop, we will equip livestock producers with the information and tools needed to successfully navigate USDA programs and resources.”

Disaster Recovery Assistance

FSA offers disaster assistance to livestock producers through programs such as the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). LIP provides benefits to livestock owners and some contract growers for livestock deaths exceeding normal mortality from eligible adverse weather events, certain predation losses, and reduced sales prices due to an injury from an eligible loss. Indemnity payments are 75% of the market value of the livestock on the day before the date of death. For details on eligibility and payment rates, producers can review the LIP fact sheet.   

LIP may also provide benefits for losses due to extreme heat and humidity when the daily high temperature exceeds 100 degrees and humidity levels are in excess of 85% for 3 of the 5 days immediately preceding the date of livestock death. Except under certain loss conditions, drought is not an eligible adverse weather event for LIP benefits, but producers should consult with their local FSA staff for more information and to determine eligibility for LIP and other livestock disaster assistance, such as the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), which provides payments to livestock owners due to a loss in the event of a qualifying drought as indicated by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock for losses due to disease and certain adverse weather events or loss conditions. ELAP also covers above normal costs of hauling water and feed to livestock and hauling livestock to forage or other grazing areas during qualifying drought conditions as indicated by the U.S Drought Monitor. 

Risk Management

USDA’s RMA offers insurance options to help livestock producers protect their operations, and meet the risk management needs of the country’s swine, dairy, and cattle producers.  Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) is designed to insure against unexpected declines in the quarterly revenue from milk sales relative to a guaranteed coverage level, Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) protects against the loss of gross margin (or livestock’s market value minus feed costs); and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) provides protection against price declines. Learn more on RMA’s Livestock Insurance Plans webpage. RMA also offers the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Insurance Program that provides insurance coverage on pasture, rangeland, or forage acres. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator.   

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), administered by FSA, provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in lower yields or crop losses or prevents crop planting. Eligible crops include crops planted and grown for livestock consumption, such as grain and forage crops, including native forage. To receive NAP program benefits, producers must have obtained NAP coverage for the crop year in which the qualifying natural disaster event occurs.

A recent policy change simplifies the NAP application process for underserved producers, allowing form CCC-860 Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification to serve as an application for basic NAP coverage for all eligible crops. These producers will have all NAP-related service fees for basic coverage waived, in addition to a 50% premium reduction if higher levels of coverage are elected.

More disaster assistance information can be found on farmers.gov, Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool.  

Conservation

USDA’s NRCS can help livestock producers address feed and forage imbalances, inadequate shelter from extreme weather conditions and issues with quality, quantity and distribution of drinking water. Livestock producers, including organic livestock producers, can benefit from NRCS’ expertise on practices such as pasture and grazing management, diverse pasture plantings and fencing. NRCS works one-on-one with producers to help identify natural resource problems and provides technical and financial assistance to solve those problems through a full suite of programs including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Access to Capital

Additionally, FSA offers producers access to capital to build or expand grain and hay storage facilities through the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL). These loans provide low-interest financing for producers to store, handle, and/or transport eligible commodities they produce, including grain and hay. Through the FSFL program, a producer can borrow up to $500,000 per loan, with a minimum down payment of 15%. Microloan options are also available for up to $50,000 with the minimum down payment reduced to 5%.   

For ownership and operating expenses, FSA offers a variety of direct and guaranteed farm loans to producers who are unable to secure commercial financing. These 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. You can find out which of these loans may be right for you by using FSA’s Farm Loan Discovery Tool.  

FSA also offers a variety of loan servicing options available to borrowers who are unable to make scheduled payments on their farm loan debt to FSA because of reasons beyond their control.

More Information

For more information on FSA programs and loans, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center.  To find your local USDA Service Center, visit farmers.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.  

Special Accommodations

Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting should contact Haylie Haines at (706) 552-2506, or email haylie.haines@usda.gov.