The United States Department of Agriculture announces an ongoing disaster program for producers who have lost livestock due to heavy snow or excessive cold this winter. Here are details from the USDA:

Michael L. Wooden, State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Virginia today announced that the sign up for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) is ongoing.   A producer has until 30 days after the disaster event occurred or loss of the livestock is apparent to file a Notice of Loss with their local County FSA Office.  A Notice of Loss may be accepted either by telephone, fax, e-mail, or in person.  Due to adverse weather conditions, such as excessive snow and extremely cold temperatures on or about January 30 through February 6 and beyond, livestock producers may be eligible for LIP benefits if eligibility requirements are met. To be eligible for LIP, a livestock producer must have owned the eligible livestock on the day the livestock died and the livestock must have been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation.

Applicants must provide adequate proof that the eligible livestock deaths occurred as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event for which benefits are being requested.  The quantity and kind of livestock that died as a direct result of the eligible disaster event may be documented by: purchase records, veterinarian records, bank or other loan documents, rendering truck receipts or certificates, Federal Emergency Management Agency records, National Guard records, written contracts, production records, records assembled for tax purposes, property tax records, private insurance documents, and similar documents.

To submit an application for benefits, please visit your local FSA office.  For more information on the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) or to find your local FSA office, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov.