Livestock Assistance Program Sign-up Begins

Livestock Assistance Program Sign-up Begins

Sign-up for the Livestock Assistance Program (LAP) began on Aug. 6, 2003, and will continue through Oct. 24, 2003. LAP is authorized under the Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003, which President George W. Bush signed into law in February 2003.

The Act makes $250 million available to livestock producers for grazing losses that occurred in either 2001 or 2002. To be eligible for the program, a producer?s grazing land must be located in a county that was declared a primary disaster area in either 2001 or 2002. Each county must also meet additional LAP eligibility requirements that include the county having suffered at least a 40-percent grazing loss for three consecutive months during either year. Contiguous counties are not eligible.

LAP is a grazing loss program; however, payments are calculated on a per-head basis for eligible livestock, including sheep and goats. The program specifies a maximum $40,000 payment with an adjusted gross income limitation. Also, LAP payments will be reduced by the amount of assistance a producer received under the previous Livestock Compensation Program (LCP).

?The fact that producers can qualify for an LAP payment for either 2001 or 2002 is dependent upon whether their county meets both the disaster designation requirement and the LAP eligibility requirement for each year. It is important to note that if a producer received an LCP payment, the amount of that LCP payment will be deducted from the LAP payment, regardless of whether the LAP payment is for 2001 or 2003 losses,? stated Peter Orwick, executive director of the American Sheep Industry Association.

When the sign-up period ends on Oct. 24, 2003, the total value of all applications will be calculated and if application amounts exceed $250 million, the LAP payments will be adjusted proportionately. For additional information, visit your local FSA office.

Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

<< Back