The USDA is trying to get the word out to producers that if they are impacted by drought, there may be assistance for them through the Emergency Assistance for livestock, honey bees and farm raised fish programs. It provides financial assistance for water transportation and for above normal costs of transporting feed to livestock or transporting livestock to forage/grazing acres. To be eligible for assistance, the county must be rated by the U. S. Drought Monitor as having a D2, severe drought intensity for at least eight consecutive weeks during the normal grazing season. They must be transporting water where adequate livestock watering systems or facilities were in place before the drought occurred or be hauling livestock to a new location for feed resources due to insufficient feed or grazing in drought-impacted areas, or who incur above normal expenses for transporting feed to livestock during drought.
For more information, contact your local USDA Service Center to learn how to apply for the programs.
