Deadline for Livestock Indemnity Program is Sept. 13

Livestock producers who suffered excessive weather-related animal deaths from Jan. 1, 2008, through July 12, 2009, have until Sept. 13 to apply for payments under the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

“Producers need to file a notice of loss and complete the application for payment at the local county office of the Farm Service Agency (FSA),” says Dwight Aakre, North Dakota State University Extension Service farm management specialist. “A notice of loss can be reported by the producer to the local FSA office by phone, fax, e-mail or in person.”

LIP compensates producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality rates because of adverse weather that occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011. A disaster designation is not needed to trigger payment eligibility for LIP. Payments will be based on a producer’s eligible losses due to adverse weather conditions.

“Payment rates are per head, type of livestock and weight range,” Aakre says. “Payments are based on 75 percent of fair market value as determined by the FSA. Only weather- related losses in excess of normal mortality rates for North Dakota are covered. Normal mortality for beef calves less than 400 pounds is 4.6 percent, adult beef cows 1.6 percent, lambs 10 percent and ewes 4 percent. Mortality rates have been identified for other weight categories and kinds of livestock as well.”

Proof of livestock death must be provided and may include verifiable records, producer records or third-party certification.

“Producers should talk to their county FSA staff to clarify the evidence of loss that will be needed to substantiate their claim,” Aakre says. “Most important is that if producers think they may have a loss but are uncertain, the producer needs to call the county FSA office before Sept. 13.”

NDSU Agriculture Communication