Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will start sending livestock disaster assistance payments through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) to ranchers impacted by drought or wildfire. The program is funded through last September’s Continuing Resolution, which Senator Cramer supported.
“2021 was a challenging year for North Dakota’s ranchers. Extreme drought affected most of the state and forced producers to cull herds they took decades to build. This program provides $750 million in disaster assistance and the expedited application process will help get dollars into ranchers’ hands as the summer months approach. I thank Senator Hoeven for his work to secure this assistance through his seat on agriculture appropriations. I urge USDA to build off their work to move the additional $10 billion in disaster assistance for crop producers quickly so farmers have financial certainty headed into spring planting. All affected producers should familiarize themselves with the details of the programs and work with their FSA office to receive assistance,” said Senator Cramer.
USDA also released details on additional relief through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to help ranchers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage, which was requested in a December letter by Senator Cramer.
Background:
ELRP includes approximately $750 million to provide assistance to ranchers for losses incurred due to drought or wildfires in calendar year 2021.
To be eligible for an ELRP payment under phase one of program delivery, livestock producers must have suffered grazing losses in a county rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 (severe drought) for eight consecutive weeks or a D3 (extreme drought) or higher level of drought intensity during the 2021 calendar year, and have applied and been approved for 2021 Livestock Forage Program (LFP) assistance. Additionally, producers whose permitted grazing on federally managed lands was disallowed due to wildfire are also eligible for ELRP payments, if they applied and were approved for 2021 LFP. Payments to eligible producers through phase one of ELRP are estimated to total more than $577 million. Phase two information will be available in the future.
Producers should contact their FSA county office or visit farmers.gov for more information.