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The following is an update from Tommy Higgins, State Executive Director, FSA, USDA |
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As of September 16, we have 6 counties in D3, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Franklin, Somerset, and Oxford, and the coastal counties stretching from Washington to Lincoln have been in D2 for 5 consecutive weeks. Any amount of time at D3 triggers our LFP and ELAP programs for hauling water and purchasing additional feed, a Secretarial Disaster Designation that makes emergency loan funds available, and our ECP program to provide emergency water for Livestock and Orchards. We have a meeting with staff scheduled for next Monday and will publicize this through our channels.
Here is a little more information about the triggered programs:
Livestock Forage Program website (LFP) – provides payments to livestock producers for grazing losses. Producers report their grazing acres to their local county office. Payments are based upon the number of cattle, acres grazed, and the severity of the drought. D2 triggers one month of payments, D3 triggers three months. Payment rates are established by the FSA National Office in Washington, DC.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program website (ELAP) – provides financial assistance to livestock producers for losses resulting from the additional cost of transporting water to livestock due to an eligible drought. Payments are made on a per-gallon amount hauled. Producers will need to provide supporting documentation showing the gallons of water hauled.
Emergency Conservation Program website (ECP) – provides cost share, up to 75% of the producers actual costs, to provide emergency water during periods of severe drought (specifically for grazing and confined livestock and for existing orchards and vineyards). Approved practices and measures may include:
Emergency Farm Loans website (EM Loans) Secretarial Disaster Designations immediately trigger the availability of low-interest FSA loans to eligible producers in all primary and contiguous counties. EM loan funds may be used to:
In addition to the triggered programs: Producers with existing farm loans should reach out to their loan officer as soon as they know that they are in distress. FSA can assist financially stressed customers with primary loan servicing before payments are missed. Producers with Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage who have suffered losses should report to their county office as follows:
Providing Notice of Loss and Applying for Payment When a crop or planting is affected by a natural disaster, producers with NAP coverage must notify the FSA office where their farm records are maintained and complete Part B (the Notice of Loss portion) of form CCC-576, “Notice of Loss and Application for Payment.”
This must be completed within 15 calendar days of the earlier of:
Producers of hand-harvested crops and certain perishable crops must notify FSA within 72-hours of when a loss becomes apparent. The crops subject to this requirement will be listed in the NAP Basic Provisions. To receive NAP benefits, producers must complete form CCC-576, “Notice of Loss and Application for Payment,” Parts D, E, F and G, as applicable, within 60-days of the last day of coverage for the crop year for any NAP covered crop in the unit. The CCC-576 requires acceptable appraisal information. Producers must provide evidence of production and note whether the crop was marketable, unmarketable, salvaged, or used differently than intended.
The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) is available to orchardists and nursery growers who have experienced losses due to natural disasters.
Producers can contact their county office! Also, reach out to us with any questions or concerns. Regards, Tommy
Tommy Higgins State Executive Director State Office | Maine Farm Service Agency 967 Illinois Ave., Suite 2, Bangor, ME 04401 Office Number (207) 990-9131 |