Farm Service Agency Reminds Producers of Assistance Deadline

A deadline for Lubbock-area ranchers and livestock producers is approaching.

The Lubbock County USDA Farm Service Agency is reminding eligible ranchers and livestock producers that experienced livestock or grazing losses during the 2011 crop year that the deadline for applying for benefits is January 30^th, 2012.

The benefits would come from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program.

The Livestock Forage Disaster Program offers payments to producers who suffered livestock grazing losses due to drought or fire that occurred before October 1^st, 2011. The fire losses only apply to federally managed rangeland. All Texas counties met the LFP requirements for a three-month payment for certain forages and pastures.

The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program provides losses to any of the aforementioned producers due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions before October 1^st, 2011.

In order to qualify for these programs, the producer must have purchased insurance coverage through the FSA’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, or the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance-Rainfall Index for Grazing. Some socially disadvantaged producers may not have to meet the Risk Management Purchase Requirement.

For more information, contact the Lubbock County USDA Service Center at 806-785-5644, Extension 2, or visit the website at www.fsa.usda.gov.