Deadline approaching for emergency assistance for livestock, honeybee and fish producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency reminds producers, including dairy producers impacted by H5N1, that the deadline to apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program is Jan. 30, for losses due to specific adverse conditions that occurred in 2024.

"USDA recognizes the broad scope of production risk our farmers and ranchers face every day. The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program provides an important financial safety net, helping our producers rebound from weather and disease impacts that are out of their control and are not part of their operation's ordinary risk profile," said Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of USDA's Farm Service Agency. "These events threaten producers' economic viability, and so it's important USDA provide support. Producers who were negatively impacted in calendar year 2024 must submit an ELAP notice of loss and application for assistance by Jan. 30."

ELAP provides emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish to assist with losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as wildfires, that are not covered by other FSA disaster assistance programs. In July 2024, USDA established ELAP eligibility for dairy producers who incur milk losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds due to positive H5N1 tests.

To date, USDA has provided more than $80 million in ELAP assistance to help H5N1-impacted dairy producers offset the cost of lost milk production. As of Jan. 8, there are active known detections of H5N1 in dairy herds in California and Texas, though ELAP assistance has reached producers in 16 states who have faced infections at some point during the outbreak. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service maintains an interactive map showing states with current and past detections.

Producers interested in applying for ELAP assistance for calendar year 2024 should contact FSA at their nearest USDA Service Center by the Jan. 30, deadline. To find a Service Center visit farmers.gov/service-locator.