Livestock assistance available for losses due to blizzard

The USDA Livestock Indemnity Program is an ongoing program in force through Sept 30, to compensate producers for livestock death losses, due to adverse weather, which are in excess of a producer's normal livestock mortality. Adverse weather conditions include lightning, ice storms, flooding, wildfire, blizzard, tornado, extreme heat or extreme cold.

To be eligible livestock owners must file a notice of loss at the FSA Office within 30 days of when the loss of livestock became apparent and file an application for payment no later than Jan. 30 after the calendar year in which the loss occurred. The recent heavy snow and extreme cold weather conditions since Feb. 1 can be a qualifying adverse weather event for livestock losses.

The payment rates per head are 75 percent of the market value of livestock, by kind, type and weight range. Eligible livestock are those owned and maintained for commercial use at the day of death -- beef, dairy, buffalo, beefalo, swine, sheep, equine, deer, elk, goats, poultry, ducks, geese, etc.

Following are the minimum normal mortality percentages and payment rates for beef cattle in Missouri. Beef, nonadult, less than 400 pounds, 6 percent mortality, pay is $302 per head; nonadult, 400-799 pounds, 3 percent mortality, pay is $432 per head; nonadult, more than 800 pounds, 3 percent mortality, pay $654; cows 1.5 percent mortality, pay is $631; bulls 1.5 percent mortality pay $820 per head. For mortality and payment rates on dairy cattle, swine, sheep, chickens and other livestock, contact the local FSA Office.

Normal mortality numbers must be met before payment can be earned on deaths due to adverse weather. (Note these percentages round up or down to whole numbers when determining head lost -- for example, for cows with a 1.5 percent normal mortality, a producer with 33 head or less would not have to meet the normal mortality before a payment could be made due to adverse weather (33 x .015 = .495 or zero normal mortality required). Each group stands alone for determining normal mortality. The number of livestock in a group on the date the loss occurred is used to determine normal mortality. For example, on calves, if you have eight or less (8 x .06 = .48) on the day the loss occurred, producers would not need to subtract any, due to normal mortality, before being paid for a death due to adverse weather.

When reporting losses to FSA, producers need to provide adequate documentation that proves the cause of death of all eligible livestock. The deaths above your normal mortality losses, which were a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event, will be eligible for payment. The documentation must provide sufficient data that identifies the quantity, the date, the livestock kind/type, weight range and cause of death. The following verifiable records such as veterinary records, insurance documents showing date and cause of death and type of livestock or an FSA paid field visit to verify loss need no additional proof. If verifiable records are not available then records such as pictures of the dead animal with date, dead wagon receipts, bank records, vaccination, branding records, etc., may be used when accompanied by tax assessor records showing beginning and ending inventories. When a producer's first LIP application is filed for a calendar year a beginning livestock inventory for that date will be required to determine normal mortality losses.

There are no disaster designations and no insurance requirements to be eligible for LIP. There are also no late file provisions for LIP -- producers must file a notice of loss at the FSA Office within 30 days of when the loss of livestock occurred. For more information contact the Vernon County FSA Office at 102 W Allison, Nevada MO or call (417) 667-8137.