USDA: $1 Billion in Livestock and Other Disaster Aid Is On The Way

Ranchers and farmers who suffered losses due to disasters from 2012 through this year should assemble their paperwork now, before the USDA’s April 15 deadline for issuing guidance for receiving assistance, said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden. According to agweb.com, Harden, who is in charge of USDA’s rollout of farm bill provisions, added that there may be a lag after April 15 before producers receive checks.

The $1 billion in aid authorized by this year’s farm bill reimburses farmers and ranchers for lost livestock and provides money for feed purchases. Harden encouraged livestock producers to bring their records to one of USDA’s field offices to apply for disaster relief through programs reauthorized by the 2014 farm bill.

The law also provides $3 million for training materials and web-based tools to help farmers make related decisions. USDA expects to release those funds shortly and have the tools available this summer.

USDA has prioritized its work to roll out farm bill provisions. It will start with items that require guidance rather than rulemaking. “Any provision or change that’s crop-year sensitive, we want to make sure that’s done as quickly as possible,” said Harden, adding that the department also doesn’t want to leave any 2014 budget dollars on the table.