The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses to act to secure assistance by Sept. 30, 2014, as congressionally mandated payment reductions will take place for producers who have not acted before that date.

Livestock producers that have experienced grazing losses since October 2011 and may be eligible for benefits but have not yet contacted their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office should do so as soon as possible.

To learn more about USDA disaster relief program, review the 2014 Farm Bill fact sheet at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/farmbill, the LFP program fact sheet, http://go.usa.gov/5JTk, or contact a local FSA office.

The Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) is a voluntary risk management program for dairy producers authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill through Dec. 31, 2018. The MPP-Dairy offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.
Signup for MPP-Dairy takes place from September 2 through November 28, 2014. During this first signup period, producers can register for the September through December 2014 coverage period and/or the January through December 2015 coverage period.
2014 and 2015 coverage elections may be different. Coverage election in subsequent years will take place from July 1 through September 30.

Dairy operations can obtain more information on MPP-Dairy at FSA county offices and online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov; click on Price Support.
View the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) Fact Sheet at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/mpp_dairy.pdf.

Risk Management for Wyoming Ranches: The Supplemental Federal Agricultural Disaster Programs

Wyoming ranchers are involved in risky enterprises and use a wide range of tools to manage risk and reduce the chances that they will suffer financial losses. Mangers choose among alternative risk management strategies on the basis of the ranch’s financial structure and the ranch manager’s preference and capacity for taking on or avoiding risk.

Currently, many alternatives exist for managing risk, including: Federal crop insurance products and supplemental federal disaster programs where available.

The 2008 Farm Bill authorized five standing disaster programs. The most pertinent to Wyoming Livestock ranchers were the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).

The Agricultural Act of 2014, passed February 7, 2014, makes the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Livestock Indemnity Payments, and Emergency Assistance of Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish permanent and provides for retroactive authority to cover eligible losses back to October 1, 2011.

This retroactive provision reinstates these programs for federal fiscal years 2012 (October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012) and 2013 (October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013).

A recently completed bulletin entitled Production Risk Management for Wyoming Ranches: The Supplemental Federal Agricultural Disaster Programs describes each of the disaster assistance programs in some detail, outlining losses that may be covered and associated compensation available. More importantly, example loss situations are included for Wyoming ranches to show how each program may work to provide protection against various types of losses.

Click here to view the bulletin or to download a copy to your computer.

For more information on the Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Programs contact a local Farm Service Agency Office or visit the FSA online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA.

Title: Risk Management for Wyoming Ranches: The Supplemental Federal Agricultural Disaster Programs
Authors: James B. Johnson, Vincent H. Smith (Montana State University) and John P. Hewlett, University of Wyoming Ranch/Farm Management Extension Specialist.