USDA Announces Livestock Relief Program
USDA announced that ranchers who have an approved 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) application would soon begin receiving emergency relief payments for increases in additional feed costs in 2021 through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP). Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said phase one of the program would use LFP data to allow USDA to distribute payments within days. Producers are not required to apply for payment.
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Phase one ELRP payments will equal the eligible livestock producer’s gross 2021 LFP calculated payment multiplied by a payment percentage, to reach a reasonable approximation of increased supplemental feed costs for eligible livestock producers in 2021. The ELRP payment percentage will be 90% for historically underserved producers, including beginning, limited resource and veteran farmers and ranchers, and 75% for all other producers. These payments will be subject to a payment limitation. Payments to eligible producers through phase one of ELRP are estimated to total more than $577 million.
