U.S. Department of Agriculture Leadership in Georgia Participated in Panel at Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention; Discusses Federal Farm Programs

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

ATHENS, Ga., March 16, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Georgia State Executive Director, Arthur Tripp, recently spoke on a panel at the 61st Annual Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention, where he shared valuable information on FSA’s conservation, disaster assistance, and farm loan programs.

“Many producers are not aware of the many ways that our agency can help their agricultural operations,” said Tripp. “FSA offers a full suite of programs and loan options to help cattle producers expand or enhance their operation, practice conservation, and recover from natural disaster events. As we work to ensure that agriculture remains the number one industry in our state, it is imperative that all producers have access to information on the federal programs available to help them succeed.”

During the panel, Tripp highlighted FSA conservation assistance, including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. In exchange, participants voluntarily sign a contract for up to 15 years and establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved vegetative cover including grasses or trees to control soil erosion, improve water quality, and develop wildlife habitat.

One CRP enrollment option for cattle producers is the Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program. Grassland CRP helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. The program emphasizes support for grazing operations,
plant and animal biodiversity, grassland, and land containing shrubs and forbs under the greatest threat of conversion. Although enrollment for Grassland CRP for 2023 is not yet available, FSA will provide program updates as details unfold. Producers can learn more about CRP options at fsa.usda.gov/crp.

USDA also offers disaster assistance to cattle producers through programs such as the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). LIP provides benefits to livestock owners and some contract growers for livestock deaths exceeding normal mortality from eligible adverse weather events, certain predation losses, and reduced sales prices due to an injury from an eligible loss. Indemnity payments are 75 percent of the market value of the livestock on the day before the date of death. For details on eligibility and payment rates, producers can review the LIP fact sheet.

Except under certain loss conditions, drought is not an eligible adverse weather event for LIP benefits, but producers should consult with their local FSA staff for more information and to determine eligibility for LIP and other livestock disaster assistance, such as the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), which provides payments
to livestock owners due to a loss in the event of a qualifying drought.

The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock for losses due to disease and certain adverse weather events or loss conditions. ELAP also covers above normal costs of hauling water and feed to livestock and hauling livestock to forage or other grazing areas during drought.

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) also provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in lower yields or crop losses or prevents crop planting. Eligible crops include crops planted and grown for livestock consumption, such as grain and forage
crops, including native forage.

More disaster assistance information can be found on farmers.gov, including the Farmers.gov Drought Webpage, Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool.

Additionally, FSA offers cattle producers access to capital to build or expand grain and hay storage facilities through the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL). These loans provide low-interest financing for producers to store, handle, and/or transport eligible commodities they produce, including grain and hay. Through the FSFL program, a producer may borrow up to $500,000 per loan, with a minimum down payment of 15%. Microloan options are also available for up to $50,000 with the minimum down payment reduced to 5%.

For ownership and operating expenses, FSA offers direct farm loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help cattle producers obtain financing needed to start, expand, or maintain a family agricultural operation. FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders. You can find out which of these loans may be right for you by using our Farm Loan Discovery Tool.

For more information on FSA programs and loans, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center.

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.