Livestock Producers in Honolulu and Kauai Counties Are Eligible for Drought Recovery Assistance

(HONOLULU, Hawaii), November 29, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Joy Kono today announced that FSA is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses due to drought in Kauai and Honolulu Counties. The deadline to apply for 2023 LFP assistance is Jan. 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 Honolulu and Kauai Counties are eligible to apply for 2023 LFP benefits for grazing losses on native pasture or improved pasture Visit the FSA LFP webpage for a full list of eligible counties and pasture types.

"To expedite the LFP application process, producers are encouraged to gather and submit records documenting losses. Supporting documents may include information related to grazing leases, contract grower agreements, timely filed acreage reports, and more,” said Kono. "Eligible livestock producers should contact our office for more information on program eligibility and to schedule an appointment to apply for LFP drought recovery assistance."

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.

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 Honolulu County FSA at 808-861-8538 and our Kauai office at 808-245-9014 ext. 104 with any questions about the eligibility of specific livestock and forage crops.

More information in USDA disaster assistance is available at farmers.gov/recover.