Livestock producers in Marion County are eligible to apply for the 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass, and forage sorghum.

The LFP provides compensation for producers that suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land. Eligible producers must complete a CCC-853 form and provide the required supporting documentation no later than January 30, 2024, for losses in 2023. Marion County Farm Services Agency (FSA) Executive Director Zach Andre says that getting set up for the LFP is a simple process, as long as your pasture is already certified with the FSA office.

“We’ll just review your maps with you, your certification maps go over what type of pasture you have out there, and make sure everything looks accurate. And then we will need livestock inventory from our producers, and that’s going to be your adult cows and bulls, and then your weaned non-adults over and under 500 pounds separated out there, as well as any sheep or goats, and any horses. And as long as you provide us with all of that, we should be able to get out a one month payment to help with some losses that might have occurred because of the drought.”

The Marion County Farm Services Agency office in Knoxville is closed today in observance of Veterans Day, but applications for the program will be available when they return to business on Monday. Learn more about the LFP from Zach Andre on today’s In Touch with South Central Iowa.