After months of waiting, Cullman County has finally met federal guidelines making livestock producers devastated by the recent drought eligible for assistance.

Ranchers and livestock producers may qualify for assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses incurred in 2017, Cullman County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Carol Nicholson announced.

“Cullman County recently met qualifying drought ratings that ‘trigger’ eligibility for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program on full season improved pasture, and annual ryegrass,” Nicholson said. “We encourage producers to contact our office for an appointment and to learn what records are required to apply for assistance.”

LFP provides compensation to livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire. For losses due to drought, qualifying drought ratings are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Qualifying fires are those occurring on rangeland managed by a federal agency and the producer is prohibited by the federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to the fire.

Eligible livestock include alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep or swine that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period.

Applications are required for 2017 losses. To expedite applications, producers who experienced losses in 2017 are encouraged to collect records documenting their losses. Supporting documents may include information related to grazing leases or federal grazing permits, contract grower agreements and more.

For more information, contact the Cullman County FSA office at 256-734-6471. You can also going online to disaster.fsa.usda.gov.