USDA Farm Service Agency Makes Policy Exceptions for Alaska Livestock Producers Impacted by Severe Weather in 2022

Contact:FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

Palmer, Alaska, Mar. 2, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has authorized policy exceptions to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for Alaska livestock producers. These exceptions extend ELAP feed and forage transportation eligibility to counties that were impacted by an early growing season drought, followed by excessive moisture at harvest in 2022, resulting in an increased need for feed or forage transportation.   

“Several weather events running the gamut from too dry to too wet have greatly affected the availability of feed for our Alaskan livestock producers this past year,” said Amy Pettit, State Executive Director for FSA in Alaska. “These flexibilities to ELAP policy for livestock producers reflect USDA’s commitment to listening to producers and responding to their needs wherever we have the authority to do so.”  

ELAP assistance provided through the policy exceptions is limited to specific counties in Alaska that suffered from the drought like conditions, followed by excessive moisture in 2022 and for which there was a shortage of local or regional feed availability.   

Eligible counties include: All Alaska Boroughs

ELAP provides assistance to owners of livestock, and producers of honeybees and farm-raised fish for feed and death losses due to an eligible natural disaster event.  

Eligibility and Loss Documentation 

Eligible livestock producers will be reimbursed for 60% of feed transportation costs above what would have been incurred in a normal year. Producers qualifying as underserved (socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning or military veteran) will be reimbursed for 90% of the feed transportation cost above what would have been incurred in a normal year. To be eligible for ELAP assistance, livestock must be intended for grazing.  

Although producers will self-certify losses and expenses to FSA, producers are encouraged to maintain good records and retain receipts and related documentation associated with the costs of transporting feed and forage to eligible livestock in the event these documents are requested for review by the local FSA County Committee.  

Important ELAP Deadlines 

The deadline for producers to file a notice of loss and application for payment with FSA for calendar year 2022 and 2023 feed or forage transportation  due to the 2022 eligible events is June 14, 2023. 

For general ELAP details, view the ELAP Livestock Fact Sheet. 

More Information  

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet (PDF, 1.4 MB) and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help producers and landowners determine program or loan options. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent. For FSA and NRCS programs, they should contact their local USDA Service Center.  

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In 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 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 www.usda.gov.