Because of the worsening drought conditions in Wisconsin, USDA has financial assistance available to help farmers recover.
Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about recovery programs. This includes recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.
“Once you are able to evaluate the drought impact on your operation, this may be fewer bales of hay harvested, fewer grazing days on pasture, or need to haul water, however the drought has impacted your farm, be sure to contact your local FSA office to timely report all crop and livestock damages and losses,” says Gene Schriefer, Wisconsin’s executive director for the Farm Service Agency.
He says to expedite FSA disaster assistance, you will likely need to provide farm records, livestock inventory, receipts, and pictures of damages or losses.
Disaster Recovery Assistance
Livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land may be eligible for the 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/livestock-forage/index
FSA maintains a list of counties eligible for LFP and makes updates each Thursday: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/livestock-forage/index
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program provides compensation for feed losses and water hauling expenses. This is associated with transportation of water to livestock and transporting livestock to forage or other grazing acres: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/emergency-assist-for-livestock-honey-bees-fish/index
Orchardists and nursery tree growers may be eligible for cost-share assistance through the Tree Assistance Program to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes or vines lost during the drought: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/tree-assistance-program/index
This complements Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program or crop insurance coverage, which
covers the crop but not the plants or trees in all cases: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/noninsured-crop-disaster-assistance/index
Loan Options
FSA also offers a variety of direct and guaranteed farm loans to producers who cannot secure commercial financing: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/index
Producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/emergency-farm-loans/index
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