Kansas Conservation Series: Drought Disaster Assistance Programs for Livestock Producers

(Washington, D.C., May 5, 2023) – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. is continuing his conservation series highlighting Kansans’ voluntary efforts to take better care of the environment. Stories will be released throughout the 2023 Farm Bill legislative process.

“While we hold hearings for the 2023 Farm Bill, I want to highlight how hard Kansans work every day to protect our environment and conserve precious resources that our Ag economy needs to thrive. Kansas farmers, ranchers, growers, and producers are finding unique and practical ways to preserve our land and protect our water and air. Their efforts are worthy of everyone’s praise,” said Senator Marshall.

As we face a 1200-year drought, we want to encourage livestock producers to take advantage of disaster assistant programs available to them. There are three main programs cattle producers can use when faced with extreme heat or drought. 

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)

Provides financial recovery to livestock owners that have lost commercially produced livestock due to a natural weather event or due to diseases caused or transmitted by a vector and are not controlled by vaccination. Compensation is based on 75% of the market value as determined by USDA’s Secretary of Agriculture. LIP covers death losses above normal mortality. LIP also covers “injured livestock” that are sold at a reduced price due to an eligible adverse weather event or eligible attack.

Livestock Forage Program (LFP)

Provides financial assistance to eligible livestock owners and producers of grazed forage crop acreage that have suffered a loss of grazed forage due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county. The eligibility is based on the US drought monitor, and payments are based on the intensity of the drought. The minimum qualifying payment is a D2 drought for 8-consecutive weeks during the normal grazing season. 

Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) Provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, as determined by the Secretary, that are not covered by other livestock disaster programs. Drought assistance programs covered under ELAP include water transportation, livestock feed transportation, and livestock transportation.