From New Hampshire Farm Bureau:

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds livestock producers throughout New Hampshire that FSA programs may be available to assist them. Many are dealing with harsh winter weather, which is causing serious harm to livestock and forage due to heavy snow, ice and extremely cold temperatures.

This is turning out to be a tough winter for many farmers and learning about FSA’s programs is an important step for producers to take.  Producers need to document the number and kind of livestock that have died as a direct result of these winter storms and timely notify their local FSA office of these losses. There may be situations where producers are transporting feed to their livestock and producers should document these additional costs as well.

FSA administers several programs that help producers recover from livestock deaths that are beyond normal mortality rates, losses of purchased and/or harvested forage, and with the additional costs of providing or transporting feed. Among the key programs are the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). For livestock death losses to be eligible under LIP, producers must file a notice of loss with their local FSA office within 30 calendar days from when the loss is apparent to the producer.

Fact sheets for these and other FSA programs can be found at http://www.fsa.usda.gov; click on Newsroom, then Fact Sheets.

All those who have suffered a disaster due to the recent cold weather and blizzards are encouraged to read the fact sheets and visit with their local FSA county office to get a quick start in the recovery process.To find the Farm Service Agency Office or USDA Service Center closest to you, click on the County Office link on the New Hampshire FSA website, www.fsa.usda.gov/nh, to access the county office locator.

Farm Service Agency Release