There are extraordinary circumstances caused by a variety of disasters from fires in the west, floods in Florida, Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf region, storms in the Mid-Atlantic and drought and heat affecting the heartland," Mr Garcia said. "Each of these events is causing economic consequences for ranchers and producers including cattle, sheep and dairy operations, bee keepers and farm-raised fish, and poultry producers."
FSA recommends that owners and producers record all pertinent information of natural disaster consequences, including:
- Documentation of the number and kind of livestock that have died, supplemented if possible by photographs or video records of ownership and losses;
- Dates of death supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts;
- Costs of transporting livestock to safer grounds or to move animals to new pastures; and
- Feed purchases if supplies or grazing pastures are destroyed.
Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that the department's authority to operate the five disaster assistance programmes authorised by the 2008 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2011.
This includes SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Programme (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Programme (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Programme (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after September 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster programme coverage.
