At the end of November the USDA updated the counties whose eligible producers can qualify for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Much of the Shenandoah Valley is a part of the qualifying counties for producers who wish to apply for the relief program.
The LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock and who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage of native and improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or acreage planted specifically for grazing.
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, which 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.
Producers interested in learning more about the LFP administered by FSA should contact their local FSA office to ask questions and for assistance with determining their eligibility.
You can find more information about the Livestock Forage Disaster Program by clicking here.