(Des Moines, Iowa)  January 18, 2012:  John R. Whitaker, State Executive Director for the Iowa Farm Service Agency, reminds producers sign up for the 2011 livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish losses ends on January 30, 2012, under the Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP).  In addition to submitting a notice of loss, producers must file an application for payment by this date. “With the number and variety of adverse weather conditions in Iowa this year, we want all eligible producers to be aware of this deadline,’ added Whitaker.  

ELAP provides compensation to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other loss conditions, including losses caused by blizzards and wildfires.  ELAP is for losses that are not covered by Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), or Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE). Eligible producers under ELAP may receive assistance for losses that occur on or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011, during the calendar year in which the loss occurs.  Eligible losses include feed losses, physical losses and additional costs incurred in providing feed to eligible livestock.

There are two parts to the ELAP application process:

• A notice of loss
• Application for payment

An application for payment cannot be filed without a notice of loss. There are no late filed provisions for ELAP.  Producers with eligible losses must timely file an acreage report on grazing land acres, honey bee colonies and farm-raised fish pond acres. Eligible physical losses of honey bees and honey bee hives due to adverse weather or loss conditions are eligible under ELAP. Producers will be required to provide documentation of beginning and ending inventory of honey bee colonies when claiming a physical loss of honey bees or honey bee hives.