Klobuchar, Smith Urge Farmers to Sign Up for Grazing Loss Assistance Program Before Monday Deadline

Klobuchar, Smith Urge Farmers to Sign Up for Grazing Loss Assistance Program Before Monday Deadline

Program provides assistance for livestock producers who suffered grazing losses due to drought in 2021

All eligible livestock producers must apply by the January 31, 2022 deadline

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, are reminding Minnesota livestock producers who suffered grazing losses due to drought or wildfire in 2021 to enroll in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Livestock Forage Program (LFP). Applications will be accepted until January 31, 2022.

"Last year's extreme drought and wildfires created enormous challenges for our state's livestock producers," said Klobuchar. "The Livestock Forage Program is available to help livestock producers as they continue to recover. I encourage all impacted producers to enroll now before the January 31 deadline."

"Widespread drought and wildfires continue to strain farmers in Minnesota and around the country," said Smith. "I encourage anyone who suffered grazing losses last year as a result of these natural disasters to contact your local USDA office and send in your LFP applications as soon as possible."

LFP offers payments to livestock producers who incurred grazing losses during their county's regular grazing season. Producers interested in applying can expedite the application process by submitting documentation of grazing losses such as grazing leases and contract grower agreements. A list of counties and grazing crops eligible for LFP assistance is available here.

Klobuchar and Smith have worked to support Minnesota agricultural producers adversely affected by the drought. In August, they introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to authorize emergency haying during the drought. They also successfully pressed for the USDA to designate farmers and ranchers in several Minnesota counties whose operations suffered from the drought eligible for federal emergency disaster assistance.

In July, the senators successfully pushed for emergency haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land.

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