Livestock Indemnity Program sign up; more Washington peaches
Washington Ag Today July 10, 2009 Ranchers who lost livestock as a result of natural disasters in 2008 or 2009 may apply for financial relief under the Farm Service Agency's Livestock Indemnity Program or LIP. The agency began accepting applications this week at Farm Service Agency county offices. For losses that have already occurred, the signup deadline is September 13, 2009. Amy Poulson with the Washington Farm Service Agency’s state office says some Washington producers should be eligible for LIP. Poulson: “Well there were some losses this past winter due to floods and also the snow we had.” The livestock must have been maintained as part of a commercial farming or ranching operation. Poulson: “The payments will be based on 75% of the fair market value of the livestock and at this time we don‘t have those rates available.” Unlike in the past a disaster designation is not required. Producers experiencing livestock losses due to natural disasters after July 13, must report their losses 30 days after death is apparent to receive program payments. The Washington Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service forecasts a Washington peach crop of 20-thousand tons, up 19 percent from last year. Harvest is expected to be up to a week later than normal. The apricot crop in Washington is forecast at nine-thousand tons, up substantially from last season’s production, which was negatively impacted by frost and poor pollination. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
