USDA adjusts disaster assistance program to help OK producers 

Oklahoma producers who planted wheat after the final planting date in October for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) may still be eligible this year for payments at a reduced rate. As one of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s disaster assistance programs, LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses because of drought or fire.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) also moved the 2019 final planting date to Oct. 15 for Oklahoma producers, which was formerly Oct. 1 or Oct. 10, depending on the county in Oklahoma. Bill Northey, USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, made the announcement from Leedey, Oklahoma, where he met with producers impacted by natural disasters.
“Prolonged severe drought and wildfires have impacted the availability of adequate forage and water sources for livestock and, in some cases, impacted 2018 cropping decisions for many ranchers and farmers,” Northey said. “USDA offers several disaster programs intended to provide relief to producers affected by severe weather conditions, and we want to make it easy for producers to use these tools to recover.”
While the final planting date for the 2018 crop year will not change, county committees in Oklahoma are now authorized to adjust livestock carrying capacity under LFP for late-planted wheat, which is similar to the process used under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Beginning next year, Oklahoma producers will be allowed to plant small-seeded grains for forage like wheat later in the fall and still be eligible for payments under the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP).
Oklahoma producers interested in LFP or other USDA disaster assistance programs should contact their local USDA service center: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ok.
Source: www.fsa.usda.gov