Sign-up Dates for Disaster Programs Announced

August 31, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced sign-up dates for the new Livestock Compensation Program (LCP), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and Crop Disaster Program (CDP). The three ad hoc disaster programs provide benefits to farmers and ranchers who suffered losses caused by natural disasters in recent years.

Eligible ranchers and other livestock producers can apply to receive benefits under the LCP and the LIP beginning Sept. 10, 2007. Eligible farmers can sign-up for the CDP beginning Oct. 15, 2007, if they suffered quantity losses to their crops. USDA will announce and conduct CDP sign-up for quality losses as soon as possible.

LCP compensates livestock producers for feed losses while LIP compensates livestock producers for livestock losses. To qualify for either program, losses must have occurred between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007. Producers in primary counties declared secretarial disaster areas or certain counties declared presidential disaster areas between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, are eligible as are producers located in counties contiguous to those counties.

Producers incurring a loss in more than one of the 2005, 2006 or 2007 calendar years must choose only one year for which they want to apply for benefits.

"Procuring disaster assistance through the U.S. Congress was a priority for the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) given the severe feed shortages around the nation the past two years. We continue to urge USDA to make the assistance available to producers as quickly as possible," commented Burdell Johnson (N.D.), ASI president.

More information about LCP, LIP and CDP is available in a fact sheet titled, Agricultural Assistance Act of 2007, found at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=diap&topic=landing. Individual fact sheets are being developed.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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