Disaster assistance available to producers impacted by recent winter storms

Agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by snowstorms, and the USDA can assist farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events.
Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.
 
USDA disaster recovery assistance 
Producers who experience livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality may be eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).
To participate in LIP, producers will have to provide acceptable documentation of death losses resulting from an eligible adverse weather event and must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent.
ELAP also includes costs associated with equipment rental fees for hay lifts and snow removal. For ELAP, producers will need to file a notice of loss within 30 days.
FSA also offers a variety of direct and guaranteed farm loans, including operating and emergency farm loans, to producers unable to secure commercial financing.
Producers in counties with a disaster designation may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses.
Loans can help producers replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed, cover family living expenses, or refinance farm-related debts and other needs.
Additionally, FSA has a variety of loan servicing options available for borrowers who are unable to make scheduled payments on their farm loan programs debt to the Agency because of reasons beyond their control.
 
Risk management
Producers who have risk protection through Federal Crop Insurance or FSA’s  should report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or FSA office.
If they have crop insurance, producers should provide a notice of loss to their agent within 72 hours of initial discovery of damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.
For NAP covered crops, a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) must be filed within 15 days of the loss becoming apparent.
 
Conservation
FSA’s Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) can assist landowners with financial and technical assistance to restore fencing, damaged farmland or forests.  
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can help producers plan and implement conservation practices on farms impacted by natural disasters.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) can help producers plan and implement conservation practices on land impacted by natural disasters.
Additional USDA disaster assistance information can be found at farmers.gov, including USDA resources specifically for producers impacted by winter storms.