FOR MORE
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rod Hamilton
Program
Chief
Farm Service Agency
Telephone: (509) 323-3015
|
Agricultural
Disaster Assistance Programs Extended to Cover
December Storm Losses
Spokane, WA,
(January 8, 2008) – Western Washington farmers and
ranchers who lost livestock, feed and suffered crop
damages during last month's windstorm and floods may
receive financial relief according to Jack Silzel,
Farm Service Agency State Director in Spokane.
"Congress extended the timeframe for federal
agricultural disaster programs under an omnibus
spending bill signed December 26, 2007. This allows
producers who had recent losses in the devastating
December storms to benefit from the disaster
assistance programs." The Farm Service Agency
received reports of losses from more than 150
Western Washington
producers after the December storm.
The extension
pertains to the Livestock Compensation Program,
Livestock Indemnity Program and Crop Disaster
Program. Since last fall, the Farm Service Agency
has been accepting applications for losses caused by
natural disasters that occurred between January 1,
2005 and February 28, 2007. The action by Congress
extends the timeframe to include disasters that
occurred by December 31, 2007. An end date for the
signup has not been established.
The Livestock
Compensation Program compensates livestock producers
for feed losses which occurred as a result of the
storm. More than 50 producers reported losses of
feed. "Floodwaters washed away hay and the water
ruined much of what remained in hard hit areas,"
said Silzel. "The storm hit at a time when feed
prices are already high because of a tight supply."
The Livestock
Indemnity Program pays producers for the physical
loss of livestock due to natural disasters caused by
the storm. About 30 producers reported livestock
losses to the Farm Service Agency following the
storm. "About 1,500 head of livestock were lost
with most losses being dairy cows," said Silzel.
"Producers also lost sheep, goats, pigs, and
chickens."
Producers had to
have losses in counties that received a Secretarial
or Presidential Disaster Declaration before they are
eligible for the livestock programs. Clark,
Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason,
Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston and Yakima received
designations as a result of the December 2007
storm. Producers in contiguous counties may also
sign up for disaster assistance if they had damages
from the storm.
The Crop Disaster
Program provides payments to producers who suffered
damage to their crops. Damage includes decreased
yields or prevented plantings. It also includes
lower prices received due to impaired crop quality.
The program covers losses that occurred in 2005,
2006 or 2007 if the crop was planted, or prevented
from being planted, before December 31, 2007.
Producers may claim losses for multiple crops in
multiple years with payments paid for the most
beneficial year. Producers must also have obtained
crop insurance or coverage under the Noninsured Crop
Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for the year for
which the claim benefits. Yield loss must exceed 35
percent to be eligible for the Crop Disaster
Program.
The Crop Disaster
Program also covers damage which results in crops
being sold for lower prices than they would be sold
had the natural disaster not taken place. Rules for
the "quality loss" portion of the Crop Disaster
Program have not been finalized and the agency will
be announcing a program sign-up date in the future.
For all three
disaster programs, producers who suffered losses due
to disasters in 2005 or 2006, as well as 2007 will
receive payments for the year they had the greatest
loss. Producers may receive payments from each
program, however. "A producer who lost livestock
and hay in the floods may be able to receive a
Livestock Indemnity Program payment and also a
Livestock Compensation Program payment," explained
Silzel.
For additional
information about the Livestock Compensation
Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, or the
Crop Disaster Program check the Farm Service Agency
website at
http://www.fsa.usda.gov
or call your local United States Department of
Agriculture Farm Service Agency office.
