IRS Sets Mileage Rates for 2025

Source: Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service announced on December 19 that the optional standard mileage rate for automobiles driven for business will increase by 3 cents in 2025, while the mileage rates for vehicles used for other purposes will remain unchanged from 2024.

Optional standard milage rates are used to calculate the deductible costs of operating vehicles for business, charitable and medical purposes, as well as for active-duty members of the Armed Forces who are moving.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be:

  • 70 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from 2024.
  • 21 cents per mile driven for medical purposes, the same as in 2024.
  • 21 cents per mile driven for moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the Armed Forces, unchanged from last year.
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, equal to the rate in 2024.

The rates apply to fully-electric and hybrid automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.

While the mileage rate for charitable use is set by statute, the mileage rate for business use is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes, meanwhile, is based on only the variable costs from the annual study.

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, taxpayers cannot claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses. And only taxpayers who are members of the military on active duty may claim a deduction for moving expenses incurred while relocating under orders to a permanent change of station.

Use of the standard mileage rates is optional. Taxpayers may instead choose to calculate the actual costs of using their vehicle.

Taxpayers using the standard mileage rate for a vehicle they own and use for business must choose to use the rate in the first year the automobile is available for business use. Then, in later years, they can choose to use the standard mileage rate or actual expenses.

For a leased vehicle, taxpayers using the standard mileage rate must employ that method for the entire lease period, including renewals.

Notice 2025-5 contains the optional 2025 standard mileage rates, as well as the maximum automobile cost used to calculate mileage reimbursement allowances under a fixed-and variable rate (FAVR) plan. The notice also provides the maximum fair market value of employer-provided automobiles first made available to employees for personal use in 2025 for which employers may calculate mileage allowances using a cents-per-mile valuation rule or the fleet-average-valuation rule.

More details can be accessed at: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-05.pdf

 

Ohio Treasurer to Offer Enhanced Ag-LINK Savings for Farmers Impacted by 2024 Drought

Source: https://tos.ohio.gov/newsroom/article/ohio-treasurer-to-offer-enhanced-ag-link-savings-for-farmers-impacted-by-2024-drought/

COLUMBUS – As farmers plan for the upcoming growing season, many are facing hardships and financial strain caused by this year’s drought. In an effort to lessen the burdens caused by these conditions, the Ohio Treasurer’s office will be offering an enhanced Ag-LINK application window for counties most affected by the drought.

“This year’s drought has impacted farmers in many Ohio counties and placed a strain on the agricultural community,” said Treasurer Sprague. “We’re proud to offer an enhanced Ag-LINK window as a way to help farmers, agribusinesses, and co-ops in the communities most impacted by the drought.”

Through Ag-LINK, farmers, agribusinesses, and co-ops can receive an interest rate reduction on new or existing operating loans. For nearly 40 years, the program has helped Ohio’s agriculture community to finance the upfront costs for feed, seed, fertilizer, fuel, equipment, and other expenses.

Starting in January 2025, the Treasurer’s office will offer an application window with enhanced Ag-LINK loan conditions for our agricultural partners in the counties most affected by the drought conditions.

During the enhanced savings window, qualified farmers will benefit from the following program conditions:

  • An increased loan cap of up to $750,000
  • An enhanced interest rate reduction
  • An extended loan period of up to two years

“The recent drought impacted the operations of many of Ohio’s farmers, so I applaud Treasurer Sprague’s efforts to provide extended accommodations and support through the Ag-LINK program,” said Dr. Cathann A. Kress, Vice President of Agricultural Administration and Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. “Ohio State University Extension and the college, in alignment with our land-grant mission, look forward to supporting the Treasurer’s efforts to reach farmers where they’re at as they prepare for next year’s growing season.”

The standard Ag-LINK program will remain available for farmers across Ohio in counties not designated as eligible for the enhanced window. Information regarding standard program loan caps and interest rate reductions for 2025 will be available in the coming weeks.

“The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) appreciates the announcement by the Ohio Treasurer’s office of new Ag-LINK opportunities to better assist cattle families battling through this year’s historic drought,” said OCA President Mark Goecke of Allen County. “Cattle families in Southern and Eastern Ohio are continuing to struggle with managing their cow herds and preparing for winter hay shortages. These changes to the Ag-LINK program show an understanding of Ohio’s beef industry and will make the program more helpful to those cattle producers who have experienced the greatest losses.”

For more details on the Ag-LINK program and instructions on how to get started, visit www.tos.ohio.gov/ag-link/.

Overview of Ag Outlook and Policy Meeting Offered in 2025

To start off the new year Ohio State University Extension will be offering Regional Agricultural Outlook and Policy Meetings across the state. There will be six meetings held from January through February, which will address topics of interest on state and national levels.

Economists from the Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE), Extension specialists, and invited guests will present on their expertise. Programs will include presentations covering topics like inputs outlook, weather outlook, grain marketing, dairy and beef outlook, farm business analysis, and energy outlook. The agenda will differ for each meeting so be sure to check with the county on what topics they will be covering.

The outlook meetings are hosted by Wayne County, Defiance County, Allen County, Mercer County, Pickaway County, and a joint meeting is hosted by Union, Madison, and Champaign Counties.

Jan. 7, Wayne County: Secrest Welcome and Education Center 1680 Madison Ave. Wooster, Ohio from 9 am – 3 pm. Registration: RSVP by January 3rd. Call the Wayne County office at 330-264-8722. Click here to access program flyer.

Jan. 21, Defiance County: Jewell Community Center 7900 Independence Road Defiance, Ohio from 5:30-8:30 pm. Registration: RSVP by January 10th. Visit go.osu.edu/25defianceoutlook or call the Defiance County office at 419-782-4771.

Feb. 11, Allen County: Youth Activities Building on the Allen County Fairgrounds. 2750 Harding Hwy, Lima, Ohio from 9 am – 3 pm. Registration: Call the Allen County office at 419-879-9108.

Feb. 21, Union, Madison, and Champaign Counties: Champaign County Community Center Auditorium, 1512 South US Hwy 68, Urbana, OH 43078 from 8:30 am- 12:00 pm. Registration: Visit go.osu.edu/TriCountyOutlook.

Feb. 28, Mercer County: Mercer County Agricultural Center 4978 Mud Pike Road Celina, Ohio 45822 from 9 am – 1 pm. Registration: Visit go.osu.edu/merceragoutlook.

Feb. 28, Pickaway County: Rhoadhouse 56, 1051 SR 56E Circleville Ohio 43113 from 5:30 pm- 9:00 pm. Registration: Call the Pickaway County office at 740-474-7534.

 

Ohio State University Grain Marketing Update on Friday, December 13

OSU Extension invites Ohio grain producers to grab a cup of coffee and join a grain marketing conversation with Dr. Seungki Lee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics (AEDE) from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. on December 13, 2024.

During this webinar held via Zoom, Dr. Lee will provide his insight on the December 10th World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) crop report and the current state of the Ohio grain market. “This early morning webinar will be a great way for Ohio farmers to learn more about the factors impacting the corn, soybean, and wheat markets” said David Marrison, Interim Director for OSU Extension’s Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute.

There is no fee to attend this webinar. Pre-registration can be made at go.osu.edu/coffeeandgrain.

Click here for program flyer

This webinar is sponsored by: OSU Extension, Farm Financial Management & Policy Institute (FFMPI), and the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics (AEDE) all located in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). More information can be found at: http://farmoffice.osu.edu

2025 Agriculture Commodity Outlook Program to be held in Wayne County on January 7, 2025

Wayne County will host their 2025 Agriculture Commodity Outlook program on January 7th, 2025.  The program will feature a broad scope of topics relevant to all Northeast Ohio agriculture producers.  Speakers from Ohio State University, Cornell University, and Certified Angus Beef will provide outlook presentations on production input costs, 2025 weather outlook, feed grain supply and demand, the new federal milk marketing orders, and the seasonality of the retail beef market.

Click here for program flyer

The detailed agenda includes:

9:00 AM-  Inputs Outlook (Barry Ward, OSU Extension)

10:00 AM- Weather Outlook (Aaron Wilson, OSU Extension Climate/Weather Specialist)

11:00 AM – Federal Milk Marketing Order (Chris Wolf, Cornell University)

12:00 noon – Lunch

1:00 PM- Grain Market Outlook (Dr. Seungki Lee, OSU AEDE)

2:00 PM- Beef Market Seasonality (Clint Walenciak, VP Product Services – Certified Angus Beef)

The program will be held at the OSU Secrest Arboretum Welcome and Education Center from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  Registration is at 8:30 AM.  The cost of the program is $20 and lunch and refreshments will be provided.  For more information, or to register, please call the OSU Extension office – Wayne County at 330-264-8722.

OSU’s Farm On: Financial Management Course to be Offered in Winter and Summer Sessions Beginning in 2025

By Eric Richer, Field Specialist- Farm Management

Click here for information about the course

The Farm On Financial Management Course has been available to Ohio farmers for the last 18 months in a convenient, self-paced and continuously on-demand platform. Beginning in 2025, the course will be re-structured to a winter and summer session format. The Winter 2025 session will run from January 1 through March 31st, with a December 1, 2024-January 15, 2025 enrollment period. The Summer 2025 session will run from July 1-September 30, with a June 1-July 15, 2025 enrollment period. Each session will last approximately 90 calendar days.

The new format will allow for several improvements to the course including time to update content, a cohort-style learning environment and optional Zoom sessions with the lead instructor. Consistent with the previous format, the enrollees will navigate the course at their own pace and on their own schedule within the 90-day session. Estimated time for completion of the course remains 20-24 hours.

Completion of the Farm On Financial Management Course meets the requirements of the Ohio Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program and the Borrower Training Requirements of the USDA Farm Service Agency’s Direct Farm Loan Programs. To date, over 110 Ohio farmers have enrolled in the course.

The Farm On Financial Management Course was created by Ohio State University Extension professionals and is offered through OSU Extension’s new Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute (FFMPI). Housed within OSU Extension, the goal of FFMPI is for the integration, translation, and communication of CFAES’ farm management and ag policy presence that addresses critical farm management and policy issues affecting Ohioans.

For more information on the course and to enroll, visit  https://go.osu.edu/farmon. Questions about the course can be directed to lead instructor Eric Richer, Associate Professor and Field Specialist in Farm Management at richer.5@osu.edu

 

 

 

 

“How to Lose Less on the Farm” workshop series to be held in London, Ohio

By: Amanda Douridas, OSU Extension Educator – Madison County

Running a profitable farm can be a challenge even with the best of commodity prices. Lower prices and higher inputs facing farmers this year are putting a serious strain on the bottom line. OSU Extension in Madison County is offering a program designed to connect producers to farm management specialists with whom they can share resources, tools and initiate discussion on how farmers can get a better handle on budgets.

This series will dive into areas of the budget where adjustments can be made. We will look at results of the FINPACK benchmarking program to see where Ohio farmers are spending the most. This can provide guidance on how one’s budget compares to other farmers in Ohio. Record keeping is not always everyone’s favorite activity but, in this series, we will see how it can help keep that budget on track.

Weed and fertility management are often the two places farmers look when budgets get tights. This session dives into where costs can safely be cut to help profitability and maintain good agronomic practices.

Of course, taxes are a key factor in farm financial management. Discover new regulations and the sunsetting of the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Lastly, the series will end with a look into organic and alternative crops for those interested in making bigger shift in their operation.

The program is free but RSVPs are required. There is an option to attend virtually or in-person at Beck’s Hybrids. 720 US Hwy 40, London. Each offering of the workshop will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Feel free to register for sessions individually and at anytime throughout the series.

RSVP: go.osu.edu/loseless.

DECEMBER 3- Budget Bootcamp

  • Enterprise budget overview and cost control- Barry Ward, Director, OSU Extension Income Tax School Program; Leader, Production Business Management
  • Calculating (and reducing) the ‘Tricky Two’ Fixed Costs in an Enterprise Budget- Eric Richer Associate Professor and Field Specialist, Farm Management

JANUARY 8- On The Record

  • Record keeping strategies to keep a budget on track- Bruce Clevenger, Associate Professor and Field Specialist, Farm Management
  • Ohio Farmers: What categories have the biggest impact on profits- Clint Schroeder, Program Manager, Farm Business Analysis

JANUARY 21- In the Field

  • Nutrient management: how to decide where to cut budget- Amanda Douridas, CCA, OSU Extension Madison County
  • Weed mgt: Reducing costs here and switching to non-GMO- Dr. Alyssa Essman, Assistant Professor, Weed Science
  • Vetting products before going all in- Amanda Douridas

FEBRUARY 4- Life, Death and Taxes

  • Farm Tax Update and Managing for the Sunset of 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act- Barry Ward and David Marrison, Professor and Field Specialist in Farm Management; Interim Director for the Farm Financial Management & Policy Institute

FEBRUARY 18- Organic and Alternative Crops

  • Hurdles associated with Organic Grain Transition- Eric Richer
  • Alternatives to Corn and Soybeans- Dr. Osler Ortez Assistant Professor, Corn & Emerging Crops

Fall Back to the Basics of Grain Marketing

By: Wm. Bruce Clevenger, Field Specialist, Farm Management

Turning the clocks back in the Fall happens on November 2, 2024.  Grain producers and farm managers are also looking at adjustments on the farm to the tightening profit margins projected for 2025.  Knowledge and action plans related to grain marketing in the coming year will be important to manage risk.

Registration is now open for the Basics of Grain Marketing Workshop, January 16 & 17, 2025 at the OSU Extension Champaign County Office in Urbana, Ohio.  This in-person workshop offers education and farm ready strategies on topics such as: basis, market carry, cash markets, forward and futures contracts, hedge to arrive and basis contracts, differed price, hedging, storage, and overviews on options, spreads, and crop insurance.  It’s “more than a 2-day workshop”, featuring pre-workshop activities on calculating grain cost of production and measure of risk comfort. Workshop content will include workshop content and activities, plus a panel of industry professionals.  A post-workshop grain marketing peer group will be offered to strengthen learning into action with webinar updates.  The workshop has 50 limited seats.

Expert instructors: Seungki Lee, The Ohio State University, Grant Gardner, University of Kentucky, and Ben Brown, University of Missouri.  For more information and registration, visit https://go.osu.edu/grainmarketing

This workshop is possible by the support of grower checkoff dollars via the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Corn & Wheat.  This workshop is led by Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio State University Farm Financial Management & Policy Institute.

Register Now for the January 9-10 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference

Contact:Eric Richer, The Ohio State University, Associate Professor / Farm Management Field Specialist, richer.5@osu.edu

Registration is open for the 3rd annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference, January 9-10, 2025, at the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio. The conference offers programming for experienced organic growers, growers transitioning to or considering organic, and consultants or educators who support these growers.

Featured speakers for 2025 include Erin Silva, University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Specialist in Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems; Damon DeSutter of DeSutter Farms in Attica, Ind., Osler Ortez, Ohio State Corn and Emerging Crops Specialist; Sophie Rivest-Auger, organic field crop advisor for Centre for Expertise and Transfer in Organic and Local Agriculture, Quebec; and David Marrison, Ohio State Farm Management Field Specialist. Additional farmer, researchers, and educators from Ohio and beyond will round out the two full days of agronomic and farm management sessions. Topics for this year include interseeding cover crops in organic corn, flame cultivation, the use of biological products in organic production, setting up weed control equipment for success, nitrogen credits from cover crops and manure, farm succession planning and a market end-users panel.

Take advantage of Early Bird pricing and register now. The cost of $140 per person includes two days of programming, meals throughout the event, and opportunities to network with organic farmers in the region as well as speakers and trade show vendors.

This event is planned by Ohio State University Extension and Ohio State’s Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) program. Continuing education credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs). For more information, visit go.osu.edu/OrganicGrains.

 

 Economic Relief Available from USDA for Producers Impacted by 2024 Drought

By: David Marrison, OSU Extension Field Specialist – Farm Management

Click here for PDF of article

Note: this is an updated version of an article published on October 10, 2024.

Drought conditions started in Ohio in mid-June and intensified throughout the summer until some relief was provided by rain showers at the end of September and first few days of October. Then drier conditions returned. The economic consequences of this summer’s drought will linger for quite some time.

Economic relief is available through various USDA assistance programs following a natural disaster declaration. The Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued 7 natural disaster designations (August 30, September 3, 18 & 23, and October 2, 8 & 15) which designated 49 counties as primary disaster counties with an additional 17 counties classified as contiguous. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for eight or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional. The following are the counties which have been designated as of October 15 (note that other counties in far northwest Ohio may be added later this month.

Primary Counties:  Adams, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Coshocton, Defiance, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Greene, Hamilton, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lucas, Madison, Meigs, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Tuscarawas, Union, Vinton, Warren, Washington and Williams counties

Contiguous Counties:  Auglaize, Columbiana, Darke, Hancock, Hardin, Holmes, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Ottawa, Paulding, Preble, Putnam, Scioto, Shelby, Stark and Wood counties.

These designations allow the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to farm operators in primary counties and contiguous counties through FSA emergency loan assistance. The USDA FSA uses the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) map to determine a producer’s eligibility by county for certain drought assistance programs, like the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish Program (ELAP) and the Emergency Haying and Grazing on CRP acres. These programs are available to both new and existing users of FSA services. Please note that each program has eligibility requirements and payment limitations.

Below are short descriptions for each of the drought assistance programs:

Emergency Loan Program: This program provides emergency loan assistance to farm operators. These loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. For production loss loans, the producer must have a disaster yield that is below the normal production yield of the crop, as determined by the Agency, that comprises a basic part of an applicant’s total farming operation.  Quality losses are determined by comparing the average market price for the commodity at the grade the applicant would have normally sold the product, with the average price of the grade at actual sale.  Producers can borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses to a maximum amount of $500,000.  The deadline for producers in designated primary and contiguous counties to apply for loans is between April 21 to June 16, 2025, depending on the county. Complete details about ELP can be found at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/tools/informational/fact-sheets/emergency-loan-program-2024pdf

Disaster Set-Aside Program (DSA): This program allows FSA borrowers to set aside of one payment due to qualified disaster. Each payment set-aside must be repaid prior to the final maturity of the note. Any principal set-aside will continue to accrue interest until it is repaid. The borrower must be current or not more than 90 days past due on any FSA loan when the application is completed. Borrowers have 8 months from date of the disaster designation to apply. More details about the DSA program can be found at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/tools/informational/fact-sheets/disaster-set-aside-program-2024pdf

Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): This program provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops that have lower yields or crop losses due to natural disasters such as drought. Eligible crops must be commercially produced agricultural commodities for which crop insurance is not available. Such crops include (but are not limited to): crops grown for food; crops planted and grown for livestock consumption, such as grain and forage crops; specialty crops, such as honey and maple sap; value loss crops, such as aquaculture, Christmas trees, and ornamental nursery and turf-grass sod. Eligible producers must have purchased NAP coverage for the current crop year. NAP payments are limited to $125,000 per crop year, per individual or entity for crops with basic coverage. Any NAP payments received with additional (buy-up) coverage is to $300,000. More information about NAP can be found at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/tools/informational/fact-sheets/noninsured-crop-disaster-assistance-program-nap

Tree Assistance Program (TAP): This program provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, and vines damaged by natural disasters such as drought. To be eligible, at least a 15 percent mortality loss, after normal mortality, must be determined due to a natural disaster. Payment is the lessor of either 65% of the actual cost of replanting or the maximum eligible amount established by FSA. Replacement of eligible trees, bushes and vines must be made within 12 months. More information about TAP can be found at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/tools/informational/fact-sheets/tree-assistance-program-tap

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Haying and Grazing: The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP) is authorizing emergency haying and grazing authority in all counties throughout the state that are not otherwise eligible for emergency haying and grazing in accordance with 2-CRP paragraph 681. Through this authority CRP participants (except CREP) may donate emergency haying and grazing rights to livestock producers affected by severe drought (D2 or greater on the U.S. Drought Monitor) through March 15, 2025. This allows the affected livestock producer to have access to feed sources from areas less impacted by drought conditions that are limited because of an active CRP contract to emergency hay and graze acres.

To ensure emergency haying and grazing is only being utilized by those producers whose livestock operations were adversely impacted by severe drought (D2 or greater on the U.S. Drought Monitor), livestock producers must file a CCC-576 (Notice of Loss) or provide a written certification documenting the impact to their operation.

To summarize, emergency haying and grazing can be utilized in any Ohio county, regardless of the county’s Drought Monitor status. However, emergency haying and grazing can only be used by an eligible farmer affected by severe drought (D2 or greater on the U.S. Drought Monitor).

CREP- Both CREP agreements prohibit haying or grazing activities that would normally be available on CRP acreage in circumstances like the present. Unfortunately, as a result, emergency haying and grazing is not available on CREP acreage.

SAFE-With concurrence from Ohio SAFE partners, DAFP has agreed to waive emergency haying and grazing restrictions set forth in all Ohio SAFE projects for this specific drought event and authorizes CRP participants to donate emergency haying and grazing rights to livestock producers whose farming operation is affected by severe drought (D2 or greater on the U.S. Drought Monitor) on a one-time basis.

For more information about the emergency haying and grazing, producers should contact their FSA County office for additional requirements and details.

Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): This program provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or that is reported on the FSA-578 with initial intended use of grazing. This program looks at acreage and intended use directly from the producer certified FSA-578 form. This program also provides compensation for eligible livestock. Eligible livestock must be animals that receive the majority of their net energy requirement of nutrition via grazing. Covered livestock include beef cattle, dairy cattle, deer, equine, goats, llamas, and sheep. The 2018 Farm Bill established a maximum annual per person and legal entity payment limitation for LFP of $125,000. More details about the LFP program can be found at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/tools/informational/fact-sheets/livestock-forage-disaster-program-lfp

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP):  This program benefits to livestock owners or contract growers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather. Note that drought is not an eligible adverse weather event except when death loss is associated with anthrax which occurs because of the drought. In addition, Mycoplasma Bovis is an eligible loss during drought for bison. Payment levels are based on national payment rates that are 75% of the market value of applicable livestock. Cattle, poultry, swine and other livestock are covered. More information about LIP can be obtained at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/tools/informational/fact-sheets/livestock-indemnity-program-lip

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP): This program provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, or adverse weather not covered by the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and the Livestock Indemnity Program. Assistance is provided for losses resulting from the cost of transporting water to livestock and hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres due to a qualifying drought. For commercial bee producers, ELAP provides for additional feed purchased to sustain honeybees during drought conditions when natural feed is not available. ELAP also assists farm-raised fish operations for excess mortality and excessive feed requirements due to eligible weather conditions.  Learn more about each facet of the ELAP program at:  https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/emergency-assist-for-livestock-honey-bees-fish

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): This program provides funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to restore farmland damaged by natural disasters and for emergency water conservation measures in severe droughts. Specific assistance can be sought for providing emergency water during periods of severe drought to grazing and confined livestock or through existing irrigation systems for orchards and vineyards. Additional details about ECP program can be found at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/tools/informational/fact-sheets/emergency-conservation-program-ecp

Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool: FSA has developed an on-line disaster assistance discover tool which allows producers to learn the USDA assistance programs which might fit their operation due to this year’s drought. This easy-to-use tool can be accessed at: https://www.farmers.gov/protection-recovery/disaster-tool

Take Action and Report: Producers are encouraged visit their local Farm Service Agency office to report crop and livestock losses. By providing this data, producers can learn their eligibility for the FSA disaster programs. Additionally, this data can serve as a catalyst for potential ad hoc disaster relief programs for crops and livestock which are not covered by an existing program.

More information on FSA Programs: Producers are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency office to explore program which they may be eligible. Producers can locate their local office at: www.fsa.usda.gov/oh