Crapo, Risch, Colleagues Request Assistance for Livestock Producers Affected by Drought

Washington, D.C.–Idaho’s U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined Senators John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Jon Tester (D-Montana) to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to address a gap in coverage under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).  In September, USDA announced it would provide ELAP assistance for the cost of transporting feed to livestock, but producers who are transporting their livestock to feed are not eligible for the program. 

“[W]e continue to hear from producers who have been severely affected by drought this year and have incurred costs related to transporting their livestock to feed sources instead of hauling feed to their livestock,” the senators wrote.  “Under current regulations, these producers are not eligible for ELAP transportation assistance.  We respectfully request that FSA exercise its authority to further improve ELAP by providing payments to producers for a portion of the costs they have incurred from transporting their livestock to feed sources.” 

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) and Tina Smith (D-Minnesota). 

Download the full letter here. 

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