Washington - The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today released the following statement to highlight federal programs that are available for cattle producers across the country who are being impacted by wildfires, hurricanes, drought, and other natural disasters. NCBA also supports local assistance efforts that allow producers, communities, and the public to support affected producers:
“The wildfires and hurricanes that have plagued the country these last few weeks are significant disasters that are hurting cattle producers in multiple ways. From flooded operations, burned rangeland, decreased forage due to drought, and smoke inhalation risks for cattle and producers alike, this is a trying time for producers. Everyone needs to take a close look at the federal, state, and local resources available that are designed to help provide relief to producers, their families, and their livestock,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “Our biggest concern is the well-being of everyone in the path of these disasters. Know your evacuation routes and exercise extreme caution when dealing with these deadly forces of nature. Thank you to the first responders on the front lines that have been battling these fires and floods every day.”
Ranchers and farmers are urged to utilize several tools from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) if applicable, including:
• The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
• Emergency Farm Loans
• Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
• Livestock Forage Program (LFP)
Visit USDA’s disaster resources website for more information.
NCBA has also set up a page that aggregates all disaster relief information in one place, that includes state specific resources, contact numbers, and donation information. Learn more here.