Eligible ranchers and livestock producers can begin applying for benefits through the Livestock Indemnity Program provided in the 2008 Farm Bill as of Monday, July 13.
 
The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides assistance to producers for livestock deaths that result from disaster. LIP compensates livestock owners and contract growers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather, including losses due to hurricanes, floods, blizzards, disease, wildfires, extreme heat and extreme cold. Eligible losses must have occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011.
 
The following table provides the final dates to file a notice of loss and/or application for payment for either 2008 or 2009 livestock losses.
 
Date of Livestock Death    Final Date to File a Notice of Loss    Final Date to Submit an Application for Payment
Calendar Year 2008    Sept. 13, 2009    Sept. 13, 2009
Jan. 1, 2009 to July 12, 2009    Sept. 13, 2009    Jan. 30, 2010
July 13, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2009    30 days after death is apparent    Jan. 30, 2010

Specific provisions for the other supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Act -— the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE), the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) — will be implemented through separate rulemakings and announced at a later date.
 
For more information on available supplemental disaster assistance programs, please visit your FSA county office or www.FSA.usda.gov.