GILLETTE, Wyo. — Recognizing the significant impact of wildfires on agricultural operations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering assistance to help Wyoming farmers and livestock producers recover.
According to the USDA, producers who experience livestock deaths above normal mortality or sell injured livestock at a reduced price may be eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program. The program benefits producers by providing payments equal to 75% of the average fair market value of the livestock.
To participate in the Livestock Indemnity Program, producers are required to provide acceptable documentation of death losses or evidence of reduced sales resulting from an eligible adverse weather event. They must also submit a notice of loss to the USDA Farm Service Agency no later than 60 days following the calendar year in which the loss occurred, otherwise known as the annual program payment application date.
Additionally, eligible producers may apply for assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, which provides compensation for feed and grazing losses, transportation of feed to livestock and hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres.
According to the USDA, producers must complete a notice of loss and submit a payment application to their local FSA office no later than Jan. 30, 2025, for their 2024 calendar year losses.
“Based on your reported losses or damages, our local Farm Service Agency County office staff are ready to help connect you with the programs best suited to meet your wildfire recovery needs,” said Bill Bunce, Wyoming FSA state executive director.
Per Bunce, FSA staff will do their best to work with the loss documentation that producers have available which may include but is not limited to farm records, herd inventory, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.
“We understand that these are trying times, and you’re pulled in many directions, so when you’re able please get in touch with us to begin the reporting process,” Bunce said in a statement. “The sooner we have the information, the sooner we can get county committee action on your requests for assistance.”
Additional information on programs and service offerings is available on the USDA website.
