Arkansas Producers: Report Winter Losses for USDA Aid

Little Rock, AR. - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is actively supporting Arkansas farmers and livestock producers as they recover from significant losses and damages caused by adverse winter weather conditions experienced this year. The USDA emphasizes the availability of various disaster aid programs designed to help agricultural operations return to full strength.

Richard Fordyce, Farm Production and Conservation Under Secretary, stated, "USDA has a suite of programs to support farmers and ranchers as they recover from disasters. I encourage impacted producers to contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages."

Among the key programs is the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), which provides assistance to producers for livestock deaths exceeding normal mortality rates or for the sale of injured livestock at reduced prices due to eligible adverse weather events. Producers must submit documentation of death losses or reduced sales and file a notice of loss with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) by March 1, 2027, for calendar year losses.

The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) offers aid to eligible producers for feed and grazing losses, as well as costs associated with equipment rental for tasks like hay lifts and snow removal. Notices of loss and applications for payment must be submitted to local FSA offices by March 1, 2027, for 2026 calendar year losses.

The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) assists with the replanting or rehabilitation of eligible trees, bushes, or vines. Applications for TAP must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster event or the date when the loss becomes evident.

Roddric Bell, Director of USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) Regional Office covering Arkansas, highlighted the importance of proactive risk management. "Crop insurance and other USDA risk management options are offered to help producers manage risk because we never know what nature has in store for the future," Bell said. He assured producers that Approved Insurance Providers, loss adjusters, and agents are well-trained to handle such events and encouraged close contact with crop insurance agents.