USDA has rolled out a new tool to help producers estimate costs incurred this year from drought, to be covered by the ELAP program (Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm Raised Fish Program). Secretary Vilsack announced on September 8th that the program would be expanded to cover feed transportation costs, as well as other losses that ELAP has previously assisted with.
“Drought has had a tremendous impact on producers, and we are thinking outside the box to help producers mitigate the effects of drought, which is a necessary first step to realizing the Secretary’s vision of ensuring agricultural producers get a fair share of the food dollar,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “From climate change to COVID-19, we are continuously working to make our programs as flexible as possible and so they effectively help producers face today’s challenges.”
The new tool is a Microsoft Excel workbook that will help producers organize and submit factual data. If you're new to ELAP, check out this fact sheet for an overview.
Click here for all details on the updated program; this is a comprehensive report on how this program will work moving forward.