U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) West Virginia Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director John Perdue is reminding the state’s producers who suffered livestock losses due to the recent adverse weather, they may be eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).
LIP compensates livestock owners and contract growers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to an adverse weather event, which can include blizzards and extreme cold, among other weather events, or reduced sale prices for owned livestock due to injury from an eligible loss condition. The payment rate is based on 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock.
“West Virginia’s livestock producers battle winter’s adverse weather conditions of ice, snow and frigid temperatures to raise their calves, lambs and goats,” says Perdue. Typical livestock losses in West Virginia include newborn calves, lambs and goats being born during an adverse weather event, a night with temperatures below zero degrees, including wind chill.“
A livestock producer must file a Notice of Loss within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is first apparent. For 2022 losses, producers also must file an application for payment by March 1, 2023.
Livestock producers must provide evidence that the death of livestock was due to an eligible adverse weather event or loss condition. In addition, livestock producers should bring supporting evidence, including documentation of the number and kind of livestock that died, photographs or video records to document the loss, purchase records, veterinarian records, production records, and other similar documents. Owners who sold injured livestock for a reduced price because the livestock was injured due to an adverse weather event must provide verifiable evidence of the reduced sale of the livestock.
Producers should contact their local FSA office for additional program details, to submit a Notice of Loss, and to apply for LIP benefits.
FSA will use the information furnished by the LIP applicant to determine eligibility. Furnishing the required information is voluntary; however, without all required information, program benefits will not be approved or provided.
To learn more about LIP visit Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) (usda.gov) or contact your local USDA Service Center. To find your local USDA Service Center, visit Farmers.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.