The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reminding producers about upcoming deadlines for disaster assistance under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) or the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

The Agency emphasizes that losses must be the result of a weather event occurring on or before September 30, 2011 – the last day of the ELAP program. Losses due to adverse weather events occurring on or after October 1, 2011, are ineligible for benefits under ELAP or LIP.

To be eligible under ELAP and LIP, livestock losses due to adverse weather events must occur within 60 days of the adverse weather event. Producers must file for losses within 30 days of the deaths becoming apparent. The final date to file a notice of loss for ELAP and LIP losses is December 29, 2011.

Once notices of losses are filed for ELAP or LIP, producers will have until January 30, 2012, to submit all required documentation and complete the application for payment.

Producers should contact their local FSA county offices with any questions about ELAP or LIP. Additional information can also be found on the USDA FSA Web site. Click herefor more details.