Livestock Producers Can Receive LIP Service

The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by a direct result of adverse weather such as floods, lightning strikes, extreme heat, and extreme cold.

Drought is not an eligible adverse weather event for this program. In addition, losses associated with management decisions are not eligible.

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the Cannon County Farm Service Agency, says that, unlike previous livestock disaster programs, LIP benefits are based on individual livestock losses.

To be eligible for LIP, a livestock producer must have legally owned the livestock on the day the livestock died. Beef cattle, buffalo, dairy cattle, poultry, swine, goats, and sheep are among the types of livestock that may be eligible under this program.

All animals must have been maintained for commercial use. Animals maintained as free roaming or used for recreational purposes, such as hunting, pets, roping, or for show are NOT eligible.

Livestock producers who suffer livestock death losses should immediately file a Notice of Loss to the Farm Service Agency within the EARLIER of: 1) 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock was apparent to the producer, or 2) 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the loss of livestock occurred.

A Notice of Loss may be filed by telephone, facsimile, email, or in person. After filing the Notice of Loss, livestock producers must complete their Application for Payment no later than 30 calendar days after the end of calendar year in which the loss of livestock occurred.

Applicants must provide verifiable documentation of livestock deaths claimed, including livestock that died because of normal mortality. Adequate documentation must be provided that proves the death of eligible livestock occurred as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event in the calendar year in which benefits are being requested.

The documentation must provide sufficient information that identifies the quantity and the livestock kind/type and weight range. Documents providing verifiable evidence may include, but are not limited to, any or a combination of the following:

• rendering truck receipts or certificates

• private insurance documents
            
• FEMA records

• written contracts

• National Guard records

• bank or other loan documents

• veterinary records

• purchase records

• records assembled for tax purposes

• production records

• property tax records

If adequate or verifiable proof of death records are not available, the producer may provide reliable records, in conjunction with verifiable beginning and ending herd inventory records, as proof of death. If the applicant cannot provide either verifiable or reliable proof of death records, a third party certification can be used.  

For more information on the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) contact the FSA Office at (615)563-4321.