By SHAWN STREET
Livestock producers in Russell County are eligible for drought assistance.
The United States Department of Agriculture has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from recent drought conditions.
Farmers may sign up at the Farm Service Agency in Lebanon.
“We know current drought conditions are adversely impacting crops, land, water supplies and livestock, creating financial and emotional strain for the farmers and ranchers we serve,” said Farm Production and Conservation Under Secretary Richard Fordyce. “I encourage producers to stay in close contact with their local USDA Service Center to report losses and damages and learn more about the many program options we have available to assist them in building drought resiliency and navigating drought recovery.”
Livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land may be eligible for the 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program.
To participate in LFP, producers must own, cash or share lease, or contract grow eligible livestock; provide pasture or grazing land to eligible livestock on the beginning date of the qualifying drought; and certify that they suffered a grazing loss due to drought.
Producers who have a risk in the pasture or hay crop must submit an acreage report to the FSA for all grazing land for which a grazing loss is being claimed.
The next deadline for annual acreage reporting in Virginia is July 15, 2026. LFP applicants who lease acres must be able to support their application with either a written lease or an Annual Lease Certification (form CCC-855).
Producers must submit an LFP application for payment and supporting documentation no later than March 1, 2027, for 2026 losses.
Meanwhile, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program provides eligible producers with compensation for above normal costs of hauling water and feed to livestock as well as transporting livestock to forage or other grazing acres.
Producers are required to submit a notice of loss and application for payment to their local FSA office no later than March 1, 2027, for 2026 calendar year losses.
ELAP also assists commercial apiarists who experience a loss of feed due to drought conditions that may need to purchase short-term feed to sustain the honeybees until additional natural feedstock becomes available.
Additionally, eligible 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.
TAP complements the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program or crop insurance coverage, which covers the crop but not the plants or trees in all cases. For TAP, a program application must be filed within 90 days of the disaster event or the date when the loss of the trees, bushes or vines is apparent.
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 primary or contiguous 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.
