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Eligible livestock producers who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage must provide a completed application for payment and required supporting documentation to their FSA office within 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the grazing loss occurred. 

Contract growers must include a copy of the grower contract and any other supporting documents required for determining contract grower eligibility. 

Supporting documents must show evidence of loss and that grazing land or pastureland is owned or leased. If a loss of grazing was due to a fire that the eligible livestock producer was prohibited by the federal agency from having livestock graze the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to a fire. FSA will use data provided by the applicant to determine eligibility for program benefits. 

Providing the data is voluntary; however, without all required data, program benefits will not be approved or provided.

The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides payments to:

- Eligible livestock owners and contract growers who have covered livestock and 

- Who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage (native and improved pasture land with permanent vegetative cover 

- Or certain crops planted specifically for grazing) that have suffered a loss of grazed forage due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county. 

LFP also provides payments to: 

- Eligible livestock owners or contract growers&#x2004;that have covered livestock and 

- Who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage on rangeland 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 rangeland due to a qualifying fire. 

The qualifying drought and qualifying grazing losses, and/or notification of prohibition to graze Federal land due to fire, must have occurred in the grazing period and crop year. 



The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides payments to:
- Eligible livestock owners and contract growers who have covered livestock and 
- Who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage (native and improved pasture land with permanent vegetative cover 
- Or certain crops planted specifically for grazing) that have suffered a loss of grazed forage due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county. 
LFP also provides payments to: 
- Eligible livestock owners or contract growers that have covered livestock and 
- Who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage on rangeland 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 rangeland due to a qualifying fire. 
The qualifying drought and qualifying grazing losses, and/or notification of prohibition to graze Federal land due to fire, must have occurred in the grazing period and crop year. 

Eligible Counties for Drought 
An eligible livestock owner or contract grower who, as a grazed forage crop producer, owns or leases grazing land or pastureland physically located in a county rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a: 
- D2 (severe drought) intensity in any area of the county for at least eight consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period is eligible to receive assistance in an amount equal to one monthly payment; 
- D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area of the county at any time during the normal grazing period is eligible to receive assistance in an amount equal to three monthly payments; 
- D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area of the county for at least four weeks during the normal grazing period or is rated a D4 (exceptional drought) intensity at any time during the normal grazing period is eligible to receive assistance in an amount equal to four monthly payments; or
- D4 (exceptional drought) in a county for four weeks (not necessarily four consecutive weeks) during the normal grazing period is eligible to receive assistance in an amount equal to five monthly payments. 
A map of eligible counties for LFP drought can be found here. 
Eligible Livestock 
Eligible livestock are grazing animals that satisfy the majority of net energy requirement of nutrition via grazing of forage grasses or legumes and include such species as alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo/ bison, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer or sheep. 
Within those species animals that are eligible include those that are or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland: 
- During the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county; or 
- When the federal agency prohibited the livestock owner or contract grower from having livestock graze the normally permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to fire. 
Eligible Livestock must: 
- Have been owned, leased, purchased, entered into a contract to purchase, or held by a contract grower during the 60 days prior to the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire condition; 
- Have been sold or otherwise disposed of due to a qualifying drought condition during the current production year or one or both of the two production years immediately preceding the current production year; 
- Have been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation on the beginning date of the eligible drought or fire condition; 
- Not have been produced and maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation (such excluded uses include, but are not limited to, wild free-roaming animals or animals used for recreational purposes such as pleasure, hunting, pets, roping or for show); and 
- Not have been livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot on the beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire as part of the normal business operation of the livestock owner or contract grower. 
Eligible Producers 
To be eligible for LFP, persons or legal entities must be a U.S. citizen, resident alien, partnership of U.S. citizens, a legal entity organized under State law, or an Indian tribe or tribal organization defined in the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act that: 
- Own, cash or share lease, or be a contract grower of covered livestock during the 60 calendar days before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire; 
- Provide pastureland or grazing land for covered livestock, including cash-rented pastureland or grazing land as of the date of the qualifying drought or fire that is either: 
    - Physically located in a county affected by a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county; or
    - Rangeland managed by a federal agency for which the otherwise eligible livestock producer is prohibited by the federal agency from grazing the normally permitted livestock because of a qualifying fire. 
- Certify that they have suffered a grazing loss because of a qualifying drought or fire; and 
- Timely file an acreage report for all grazing land for which a grazing loss is being claimed.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

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Payments 
FSA will calculate LFP payments for an eligible livestock producer for grazing losses because of a qualifying drought equal to payment factors of one, three, four or five times the LFP monthly payment rate. The LFP monthly payment rate for drought is equal to 60 percent of the lesser of either the monthly feed cost: 
- For all covered livestock owned or leased by the eligible livestock producer; or 
- Calculated by using the normal carrying capacity of the eligible grazing land of the eligible livestock producer. 
Total LFP payments to an eligible livestock owner or contract grower in a calendar year for grazing losses will not exceed five monthly payments for the same kind, type, and weight range of livestock. 
In the case of an eligible livestock owner or contract grower who sold or otherwise disposed of livestock because of drought conditions in one or both of the two previous production years immediately preceding the current production year, the payment rate will equal 80 percent of the monthly payment rate. 
FSA will calculate LFP payments for eligible livestock owners or contract growers for losses suffered because of a qualifying fire on federally managed rangeland for which the producer is prohibited from grazing the normally permitted livestock. The payment begins on the first day the permitted livestock are prohibited from grazing the eligible rangeland 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. The payment rate is 50 percent of the monthly feed cost for the number of days the owner or contract grower is prohibited from having livestock graze the managed rangeland because of a qualifying fire, not to exceed 180 calendar days.
Payments Limitation 
The Agriculture Improvement Act (2018 Farm Bill) established a maximum annual per person and legal entity payment limitation for LFP (without regard to any other program) of $125,000. 
Therefore, for 2019 and subsequent program years, no person or legal entity, excluding a joint venture or general partnership, may receive, directly or indirectly, more than $125,000 total in payments under LFP. The average adjusted gross income (AGI) limitation relating to limits on payments for persons or legal entities, excluding joint ventures and general partnerships, with certain levels of AGI will apply. Specifically, a person or legal entity with an AGI (as defined in 7 CFR Part 1400) that exceeds $900,000 will not be eligible to receive LFP payments. 
Direct attribution provisions apply to LFP. Under direct attribution, any payment to a legal entity will also be considered for payment limitation purposes to be a payment to persons or legal entities with an interest in the legal entity or in a sub-entity. To learn more, visit the Payment Eligibility and Payment Limitations fact sheet at fsa.usda.gov/payment-limitations.

Owners or contract growers may apply to receive LIP benefits at local FSA offices. Owners or contract growers who suffer livestock losses due to an eligible cause of loss must submit a notice of loss and an application for payment to the local FSA office that serves the physical location county where the livestock losses occurred. 

The 2014 Farm&#x2004;Bill authorized the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) 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 eligible attacks (attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law, including wolves and avian predators). 


The occurrence of an eligible loss condition in and by itself is not determinative for eligible livestock losses. The livestock owner or contract grower must provide evidence acceptable to FSA that the eligible cause of loss not only occurred but directly caused loss or death. 


LIP payments for owners are based on national payment rates that are 75 percent of the market value of the applicable livestock as determined by the Secretary. Rates for contract growers of poultry or swine will not exceed the rates for owners but are based on 75 percent of national average input costs for the applicable livestock. 


The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, enacted Feb. 9, 2018, amended certain provisions related to LIP effective with the 2017 year. Those amendments included: 

- Removing the maximum per person and legal entity payment limitation for the 2017 and subsequent program years (as discussed in this fact sheet); and 

- Providing for compensation in the event that livestock are injured by an eligible loss condition but not killed, and are sold for a reduced price.



The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) 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 eligible attacks (attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law, including wolves and avian predators). 

The occurrence of an eligible loss condition in and by itself is not determinative for eligible livestock losses. The livestock owner or contract grower must provide evidence acceptable to FSA that the eligible cause of loss not only occurred but directly caused loss or death. 

LIP payments for owners are based on national payment rates that are 75 percent of the market value of the applicable livestock as determined by the Secretary. Rates for contract growers of poultry or swine will not exceed the rates for owners but are based on 75 percent of national average input costs for the applicable livestock. 

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, enacted Feb. 9, 2018, amended certain provisions related to LIP effective with the 2017 year. Those amendments included: 
- Removing the maximum per person and legal entity payment limitation for the 2017 and subsequent program years (as discussed in this fact sheet); and 
- Providing for compensation in the event that livestock are injured by an eligible loss condition but not killed, and are sold for a reduced price.

To be eligible for LIP: 
- A livestock owner must have legally owned the livestock on the day the livestock died and/or were injured by an eligible loss condition 
- An owner’s livestock must have either: (a) died in excess of normal mortality as a direct result of an eligible loss condition, or (b) been injured as a direct result of an eligible loss condition and were sold at a reduced price. 

Eligible livestock must: 
- Have been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation on the day they died; and 
- Not have been produced or maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation. 

Excluded livestock includes wild, free-roaming animals, and pets or animals used for recreational purposes, such as hunting, roping or for show.


All of the owner’s or contract grower’s interest in inventory of eligible livestock in that county for the calendar year must be accounted for and summarized when determining eligibility. 
An owner or contract grower must file a notice of loss within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is first apparent as well as file an application for payment within 60 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the eligible loss condition occurred.

Contact your local FSA Service center to apply.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) authorized the use of Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the&#x2004;Secretary. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, such as losses not covered by the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). 

In 2021, USDA updated ELAP policy to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA has expanded the program to help ranchers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres.



The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) authorized the use of Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, such as losses not covered by the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). 
In 2021, USDA updated ELAP policy to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA has expanded the program to help ranchers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres.

ELAP provides assistance for livestock feed and grazing losses that are not due to drought or wildfires on federally managed lands; losses resulting from the cost of transporting water to livestock due to an eligible drought; losses resulting from the additional cost associated with gathering livestock for treatment and/or inspection related to cattle tick fever, honeybee feed, colony and hive losses; and farm-raised fish feed and death losses. 

An eligible livestock, honeybee or farmraised fish producer who certifies they are socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning, or a veteran farmer or rancher will receive 90 percent of the payment rate for the losses under ELAP.

The average adjusted gross income (AGI) limitation relating to limits on payments for persons or legal entities, excluding joint ventures and general partnerships, with certain levels of AGI apply. Specifically, a person or legal entity with an AGI (as defined in 7 CFR Part 1400) that exceeds $900,000 is not eligible to receive ELAP payments. Direct attribution provisions also apply to ELAP. Under direct attribution, any payment to a legal entity will also be considered for payment limitation purposes to be a payment to persons or legal entities with an interest in the legal entity or in a sub-entity.

Honey

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Apiary

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- Fact Sheet
- Fact Sheet - Spanish Version
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions – Spanish Version
- ELAP Final Rule

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Producers can apply to receive ELAP assistance at local FSA service centers. The ELAP application period ends Dec. 31 of each calendar year. 
In addition to submitting an application for payment, producers who suffered losses must submit a notice of loss to the local FSA service center that maintains the farm records for their business.

For honeybee losses, producers must file notice of loss with the FSA within 15 days after loss is apparent. For Livestock and farm-raised fish losses, producers must file notice of loss with the FSA within 30 days after loss is apparent.

Producers may submit an application for payment from ELAP anytime during the program year and up until January 30th of the following year.

List of Agricultural Funding for Operations Experiencing Livestock Loss