The Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in Aitkin, Itasca, Cass and Crow Wing counties recently announced ranchers and livestock producers can apply for help from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program for grazing losses incurred in 2021.
The program provides compensation to livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought and covers full-season improved pasture, native pasture and forage sorghum.
“We encourage producers to contact our office for an appointment and to learn what records they need to have on hand in order to apply for assistance,” County Executive Director Kayla Mattson stated in a news release.
For losses due to drought, an eligible livestock producer must own or lease grazing land or pastureland physically located in a county meeting drought intensity criteria rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor. A map of eligible counties may be found on the Farm Service Agency website.
"Those producers that have not yet reported their pasture acres are encouraged to contact FSA as soon as possible to report those acres. A late-file fee may be required to certify this acreage,” Mattson stated.
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Eligible livestock includes alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo/bison, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period.
Producers must provide a completed application and supporting documents to their Farm Service Agency office within 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the grazing loss occurred.
Applicants should collect records documenting their losses and evidence that the grazing land or pastureland is owned or leased. Additional supporting documents include federal grazing permits and contract grower agreements.
For more information, contact the Aitkin/Itasca and Cass/Crow Wing County Farm Service Agency office at 218-829-5965 or visit farmers.gov/recover .
