An online workbook is available for drought-stricken ranchers to estimate payments for feed transportation costs, which are now covered by the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).
ELAP was updated this year to cover drought-related transportation costs, as well as lower the threshold for when assistance for water hauling expenses is available.
“Drought has had a tremendous impact on producers, and we are thinking outside the box to help producers mitigate the effects of drought, which is a necessary first step to realizing the secretary’s vision of ensuring agricultural producers get a fair share of the food dollar,” said Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux in a statement.
The ELAP Feed Transportation Producer Tool is a Microsoft Excel workbook that enables ranchers to input information specific to their operation to determine an estimated payment. Ranchers will need the following information to use the tool:
• Number of truckloads for this year.
• Mileage per truckload this year.
• Share of feed cost this year (if splitting loads).
• Number of truckloads you normally haul.
• Normal mileage per truckload.
• Share of normal feed cost.
USDA will reimburse ranchers 60 percent of feed transportation costs, and producers qualifying as underserved (socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning or military veteran) will be reimbursed for 90 percent above what would have been incurred in a normal year.
According to USDA, reimbursement costs will not include the first 25 miles and distances exceeding 1,000 transportation miles. “The calculation will also exclude the normal cost to transport hay or feed if the producer normally purchases some feed. For 2021, the initial cost formula of $6.60 per mile will be used (before the percentage is applied).”
FSA is also updating ELAP to cover water-hauling expenses in areas experiencing D2 drought intensity for eight consecutive weeks, as indicated by the U.S. Drought Monitor. The existing threshold is drought intensity D3 or greater. Program benefits are retroactive for 2021.
To be eligible for ELAP assistance, livestock must be intended for grazing, and producers must have incurred feed transportation costs on or after Jan. 1, 2021.
FSA will begin taking applications this fall, and ranchers should contact their local FSA office to apply. FSA recommends ranchers should print or email the payment estimates generated by the ELAP Feed Transportation Producer Tool to simplify the application process. A tutorial video on how to use the tool can be found at fsa.usda.gov/elap. The deadline to apply for ELAP, including feed transportation costs, for 2021 is Jan. 31, 2022. — Charles Wallace, WLJ editor
