Kansas Conservation Series: Supporting Livestock Disaster Act

Washington, D.C. – 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.

Recently, Senator Marshall co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to improve the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program (ELAP) to better meet the needs of ranchers impacted by natural disasters. This legislation was introduced by Senator Hoeven (R-ND) and Senator Tester (D-MT).

In 2021, Kansas had a devastating winter wildfire that burned an estimated 163,000 acres with wind gusts up to 100 mph. Unfortunately, livestock producers could not get compensated for forage losses because it was outside the normal grazing season. Senator Marshall worked with Sens. Hoeven and Tester to add language to the Livestock Disaster Relief Act to ensure future losses of the same nature are covered under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program.

“Ranchers work day and night, in the wind, rain, snow, sleet, hail, and storms to be caretakers of their livestock and the ELAP program is there to take care of the ranchers in the event of a devastating loss. Unfortunately, because of a technicality in regulations, ranchers who lost thousands of acres of winter forage were unable to be compensated for that loss. This addition to Senator Hoeven and Testers bill makes sure that won’t happen again,” said Senator Marshall. 

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