Livestock producers in Smith County (and many other East Texas counties) are eligible for payment under the United States Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) Livestock Compensation Program (LCP).
These payments are in association with losses that occurred from natural disasters that took place between January 1, 2005, and February 28, 2007.
Eligible livestock under LCP are dairy or beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, equine, poultry, elk, reindeer, sheep, goats, swine, or deer.
Eligible livestock must have been physically located in an eligible county on the beginning date of the applicable disaster period, and must have been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation on the beginning date of the disaster period, and not have been produced/maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation.
Excluded uses include: wild free roaming animals, and animals used for recreational purposes such as pleasure, hunting, pets, roping, or for show.
Producers eligible for LCP must have either owned or cash-leased eligible livestock (but not both for the same livestock) on the beginning date of the applicable disaster period(s).
Payment rates for some of the eligible livestock in LCP are as follows: adult beef cattle, $10.66 per head; beef cattle non-adult (500 pounds or more), $8.00 per head; adult dairy cattle $27.72 per head; and non-adult dairy cattle (500 pounds or more), $8.00 per head. Sheep, goats, and deer are eligible for $2.67 per head. Equine are eligible for $7.89 per head, excluding those used for recreational activities or raised to be used for recreational purposes.
Important note #1 – Producers incurring a loss in more than one calendar year (2005, 2006, or 2007) must choose only one year for which they want to receive benefits.
Important note #2 – A producer who applies for benefits under LCP in calendar year 2006 will have their LCP payment reduced by the amount of payment received under the 2006 Livestock Assistance Grant Program (LAGP) which was administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Important note #3 – Livestock producers applying for LCP must apply in their administrative county FSA office. You must furnish the following in order to file an application: livestock inventory records for 2005 and 2006; written lease agreements on all land leased for grazing purposes (leases must be signed by both owner and operator with beginning and ending dates specified); and deeds and/or tax records on any newly purchased land used for grazing not already on file in the FSA office.
Important note #4 – Livestock producers from Smith County who are interested in applying for LCP must contact the Tyler FSA Service Center to schedule an appointment. A sign up deadline has not yet been announced for this program, so there is plenty of time to make an appointment and get your required information together before going down to complete an application.
Important note #5 – Participants randomly selected for a compliance check must furnish records to substantiate livestock numbers claimed. Producers may receive no more than $80,000 under LCP and certain income level restrictions apply.
The Smith County FSA office is located at 4209 Republic Drive in Tyler. Call 903-561-2050, ext. 2, to set up an appointment or to ask additional questions about LCP or other FSA offerings.
If you do not operate a farm in Smith County, contact your local FSA office to see if your county qualifies under LCP.
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