Emergency Livestock Program Webinar: January 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

The Farm Service Agency in Washington is hosting an informational webinar at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. This webinar will inform producers of the requirements and discuss common applications mistakes for the Emergency Assistance Program for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), and Livestock Forage Program (LFP). Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a moderated Q&A session with local program experts following the presentation.

Date: Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Platform: Microsoft Teams. Registration is not required. To access the event, following the workshop link below.

Workshop Link: Click here to attend. 

USDA recently announced a major producer-friendly change to 2023 Notice of Loss requirements for the Emergency Assistance Program for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). This change will be covered in the webinar along with requirements for supporting documentation and forms.

Visit the Disaster Assistance Programs website for more information disaster programs. 

Click here to learn how to sign up for free email and text alerts about the latest FSA programs and national funding opportunities.

Livestock Producers in Northwest Washington Are Eligible for Drought Recovery Assistance

FSA is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses due to 2023 drought. The deadline to apply for 2023 LFP assistance is Jan. 30, 2024.

LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land or fire on federally managed land. For LFP, qualifying drought intensity levels are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor. Producers in eligible counties can apply for 2023 LFP benefits for grazing losses on native and improved pasture acres. Visit the FSA LFP webpage for a full list of eligible counties and pasture types.

Livestock eligible for LFP include alpacas, beef cattle, bison, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland. Recently, FSA updated LFP policy to expand program eligibility to include additional income producing grazing animals, like horses and ostrich, that contribute to the commercial viability of an agricultural operation.

Livestock used for hunting and consumption by the owner and horses and other animals that are used or intended to be used for racing and wagering remain ineligible.

As a reminder, producers who want to participate in many USDA programs including disaster assistance programs like LFP, must file timely acreage reports by filling out the FSA-578 form to remain eligible for program benefits. Livestock producers interested in applying LFP should contact the Mount Vernon USDA Service Center at 360-428-7684 ext. 2 with any questions about the eligibility of specific livestock and forage crops.

More information in USDA disaster assistance is available at farmers.gov/recover.

Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs Receive 2018 Farm Bill One Year Extension, Farmers Can Now Enroll for the 2024 Crop Year

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024.  

On Nov. 16, 2023, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6363, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-22), which extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334), more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, through September 30, 2024. This extension allows authorized programs, including ARC and PLC, to continue operating.

“Having the Farm Bill extension in place means business as usual for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage program implementation for the 2024 crop year— nothing has changed from previous years,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “These programs provide critical financial protections against commodity market volatilities for many American farmers so don’t delay enrollment. Avoid the rush and contact your local FSA office for an appointment because even if you are not changing your program election for 2024, you still need to sign a contract to enroll.” 

Inflation Reduction Act Assistance for Distressed Borrowers

USDA has begun implementing a process to identify whether an operation has sufficient cash flow to make their next scheduled loan payment. Through this procedure, qualifying borrowers can request FSA to cover their next installment due or a recently missed installment. All FSA direct loan borrowers should have received a letter in February 2023 detailing the process for seeking this type of assistance even before they become delinquent.

A reminder letter was mailed to all direct loan borrowers in September 2023 to clarify the assistance criteria. 

• Read the updated letter in English.
• Read the updated letter in Spanish.

Borrowers may seek a cash flow analysis from FSA using a recent balance sheet and operating plan to determine their eligibility.

Borrowers can submit requests for cash flow-based assistance in person at their local FSA office or by sending in a direct request using the farmers.gov 22006 assistance request portal at farmers.gov/ira22006cashflow.

All requests for assistance must be received by December 31, 2023. Assistance is subject to funding availability.

FY24 Organic Transition Initiative batching period now open

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington (NRCS-WA) is now accepting applications for the Organic Transition Initiative.

The Organic Transition Initiative is a USDA initiative that provides financial assistance (FA) and technical assistance (TA) for conservation practices that support organic production. While NRCS accepts applications year-round, eligible applications received by Jan. 19, 2024 will be batched and then ranked for consideration of FY24 funding.

Before crops can be certified organic, farmers must carefully manage their land without using prohibited inputs like synthetic pesticides for 36 months. During this transition period and during the first years after certification, farmers often face many technical and market challenges.

The Organic Transition Initiative provides funding to support producers transitioning to organic production by providing financial assistance (FA) and technical assistance (TA) to farmers choosing to implement a new organic management standard.

Eligible producers include farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and other producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to organic certification. Higher payment rates are available for underserved producers including socially disadvantaged, beginning, veteran, and limited resource farmers and ranchers.

To apply, and for more information on EQIP, please contact your local NRCS Field Office. You can also get more information about the Organic Transition Initiative at farmers.gov/organic.



Read more here for details about assistance for producers transitioning to organic and the notice of funding to hire organic technical experts.

2024 Regional Manure Nutrient Managment Training- Whatcom County

Who: All manure handlers: dairy, livestock, crops, custom pumpers, and consultants 

When: Thursday, January 18, 2024  

Registration: 8:45 am – 9:00 am 

Event: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm 

Where: Mt. Baker Rotary Building, NW Washington Fairgrounds, 1751 Front Street, Lynden, WA 98264 

This event is FREE, but please RSVP here.  

Topics for this year’s event include: 

• Multi-County Dairy Farmer Panel (Snohomish, Skagit, & Whatcom) 
• Irrigation efficiency, nutrient management, and more! 
• Manure Management Solutions 
• Innovative water runoff treatment practices 
• Dairy separated solids and mortality composting 
• WSDA Updates: new focus on climate resiliency 
• Carbon Farming for the Future 
• Researcher Panel: feed additives and fate of nutrients in dairy manure vermicompost 
• Funding Opportunities and Updates: NRCS EQIP & WA State Conservation Commission 

Rural Energy For America Program

The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.

How may the funds be used?

Funds may be used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, such as:

• Biomass (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels).
• Geothermal for electric generation or direct use.
• Hydropower below 30 megawatts.
• Hydrogen.
• Small and large wind generation.
• Small and large solar generation.
• Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation.

Funds may also be used for the purchase, installation and construction of energy efficiency improvements, such as:

• High efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC).
• Insulation.
• Lighting.
• Cooling or refrigeration units.
• Doors and windows.
• Electric, solar or gravity pumps for sprinkler pivots.
• Switching from a diesel to electric irrigation motor.
• Replacement of energy-inefficient equipment.

Energy Efficiency Improvement applications must contain an Energy Audit, or Energy Assessment (depending on Total Project Costs) that complies with Appendix A to RD Instructions 4280-B

Agricultural producers may also use guaranteed loan funds to install energy efficient equipment and systems for agricultural production or processing.

Funding for the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant program has increased tenfold and they are now offering to pay for 50% of the cost to install a solar system. When one adds a 30% to 40% Federal Tax Credit and in many cases an Energy Trust incentive too, the simple payback on solar can be about a year. Perhaps more importantly, each net $1 invested should save $20 plus on future power bills.

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm Raised Fish

ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, such as losses not covered by the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

Assistance for Feed Transportation Costs

In 2021, USDA updated ELAP policy to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA has expanded the program to help ranchers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres. This includes places where:

• Drought intensity is D2 for eight consecutive weeks as indicated by the U.S. Drought Monitor;  
• Drought intensity is D3 or greater; or  
• USDA has determined a shortage of local or regional feed availability. 



An online tool is now available to help ranchers document and estimate payments to cover feed transportation costs caused by drought. Download the tool. If you have questions, a demonstration video are available

The deadline to request all ELAP assistance for 2023 calendar year losses will be Jan. 30, 2024.