U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in Georgia Reminds Livestock Producers in Eligible Counties to Report Forage Losses by Jan. 30

Contact: Jay Ivey
Jay.Ivey@usda.gov
706-510-5318

ATHENS, Ga., Jan. 3, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Georgia State Executive Director, Arthur Tripp, Jr., reminds livestock producers in eligible counties who suffered grazing losses that occurred throughout 2023 due to drought to report their losses timely and to enroll in the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) by Jan. 30, 2024. 

To date, twenty-five Georgia counties have met the drought severity levels that trigger LFP eligibility for the

2023 program year. The counties that are eligible are Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Dawson, Decatur, Early, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Habersham, Lumpkin, Miller, Murray, Pickens, Rabun, Seminole, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield.  

LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately-owned or cash-leased land or fire on federally-managed land. Livestock producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center with any questions regarding specific forage crops that are eligible.  

"Prolonged drought conditions have created a need for livestock disaster assistance programs in many Georgia counties," said Tripp. "I encourage all affected livestock producers in the eligible counties to contact their local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment to enroll in the program before the Jan. 30 deadline." 

Livestock producers must complete the LFP application and required supporting documentation no later than Jan. 30, 2024, for losses that occurred throughout 2023. Producers who already have appointments scheduled require no additional action to meet the deadline. 

Eligible livestock includes alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep, or swine that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland.  

Visit www.usda.gov/disaster to learn more about FSA disaster assistance programs. To find a local USDA Service Center, visit www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator.  

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.