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