12/03/02
Sign-up for the USDA’s Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) for cattle, sheep, goats and buffalo producers will end Dec. 13.
Sign-up began Oct 1, with livestock headquarters operations physically located in counties that have received a secretarial primary disaster designation for drought between Jan. 1, 2001 and Sept. 19, 2002. A county that had a secretarial disaster designation request pending for drought as of Sept. 19, 2002, and was subsequently approved as a primary county, is also eligible.
In Virginia, 45 localities have received primary disaster designation and producers with livestock headquarters operations in these counties are eligible for the USDA Livestock Compensation Program.
Payments are based on standard feed consumption data for each eligible type of livestock. Types of livestock adjusted by these factors and payment rates are, per head, as follows: beef cows, $18; dairy cows, $31.50; stockers, $13.50; buffalo and beefalo,$18; goats,$4.50; sheep, $4.50.
Producers should contact their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office or their local USDA Service Center to learn what documentation will be required for sign-up. In general, producers will need to provide documentation of livestock owned as of June 1, 2002. FSA state and county offices will assist producers with sign-up and provide additional program details.
For more information about this program, log onto USDA’s Web site at http://drought.fsa.usda.gov/assistance.asp#LCP.