USDA's Farm Service Agency Announces Updates
Sunday, March 1st, 2020 -- 9:38 AM
The USDA's Farm Service Agency announced updates to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program.According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, these changes were brought on by the 2018 Farm Bill as well as discretionary changes intended to improve the administration of the program and clarify existing program requirements. ELAP was previously administered based on FSA's fiscal year but will now run according to the calendar year. Producers are still required to submit an application for payment within 30 calendar days of the end of the program year. This is not a policy change but will affect the deadline.
For honeybees, ELAP covers colony losses, honeybee hive losses (the physical structure) and honeybee feed losses in instances where the colony, hive or feed has been destroyed by a natural disaster or, in the case of colony losses, because of Colony Collapse Disorder. Colony losses must be in excess of normal mortality. The signup deadline for calendar year 2020 losses is January 30, 2021.
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