Livestock Forage Program (LFP)

Kiowa County has triggered for the LFP Program due to drought conditions. Livestock inventory numbers are needed for December 14th for small grains pasture and April 15th for warm season pasture. Cattle numbers are separated into adults, (cows, bulls and bred heifers) non-adults greater than 500 pounds and non-adults less than 500 pounds. Non-adults are only eligible if weaned. Goats, sheep and other commercially-produced livestock are also eligible. Livestock sales after September 28th, 2021 may also be eligible.

Leased grazing acres have to be documented by a current written lease or an annual lease certification statement signed by the lessor and lessee. Contact our office for additional information at 580-726-3347, ext 2.

Emergency Programs

Applications are being accepted to address damage from fires that occurred in the county. The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides cost-share assistance for repairing and replacing permanent fences and conservation structures. The Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) provides cost-share assistance for purchased and produced livestock feed losses. Contact our office for additional information at 580-726-3347, ext 2.

Important Dates

May 13, 2022 - Deadline to apply for Grasslands CRP
May 16, 2022 - Final date to certify Spring Oats
May 27, 2022 - Deadline to request ECP assistance
July 15, 2022 - Final date to certify spring/summer crops

Producers in Kiowa County are eligible to apply for 2022 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture and cool season grass.  LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land.  

County Committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of qualifying drought or if a federal agency prohibits producers from grazing normal permitted livestock on federally managed lands due to qualifying fire.  You must complete a CCC-853 and the required supporting documentation no later than January 30th, 2023, for 2022 losses.  

For additional information about LFP, visit fsa.usda.gov.  

Wildfires have caused severe damage in various areas of Kiowa County.

If you’ve suffered severe damage, you may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by the  Kiowa County Farm Service Agency (FSA)

For land to be eligible, the natural disaster must create new conservation problems that, if untreated, would:

• be so costly to rehabilitate that Federal assistance is or will be needed to return the  land to productive agricultural use
• is unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area
• affect the productive capacity of the farmland
• impair or endanger the land

If you qualify for ECP assistance, you may receive cost-share levels not to exceed 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. Eligible socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers can receive up to 90 percent of the eligible cost of restoration. No one is eligible for more than $500,000 cost sharing per natural disaster occurrence.

If you’ve suffered a loss from a natural disaster, you may contact the Kiowa County FSA Office and request assistance through May 27, 2022.

To be eligible for assistance, practices must not be started until all the following are met:

• an application for cost-share assistance has been filed
• the local FSA County Committee (COC) or its representative has conducted an onsite inspection of the damaged area
• the Agency responsible for technical assistance, such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), has made a needs determination, which may include cubic yards of earthmoving, etc., required for rehabilitation

For more information about ECP, visit fsa.usda.gov.