Livestock Producers in Hawaii County Are Eligible for Drought Recovery Assistance

(HILO, Hawaii), May 1, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting County Executive Director Kristen Kiriu in Hawaii County today announced that FSA is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses due to drought. The deadline to apply for 2024 LFP assistance is Jan. 30, 2025.

LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land or fire on federally managed land. For LFP, qualifying drought intensity levels are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor. Producers in Hawaii County are eligible to apply for 2024 LFP benefits for grazing losses on native pasture or improved pasture. Visit the FSA LFP webpage for a full list of eligible counties and pasture types.

"To expedite the LFP application process, producers are encouraged to gather their livestock inventory records and submit other documents as required. Supporting documents may include information related to grazing leases, contract grower agreements, timely filed acreage reports, and more," said Kiriu. "Eligible livestock producers should contact our office for more information on program eligibility and to schedule an appointment to apply for LFP drought recovery assistance."

Livestock eligible for LFP include alpacas, beef cattle, bison, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland. Recently, FSA updated LFP policy to expand program eligibility to include additional income producing grazing animals, like horses and ostrich, that contribute to the commercial viability of an agricultural operation.

Livestock used for hunting, racing, wagering and personal consumption by the owner will remain ineligible.

As a reminder, producers who want to participate in the USDA Farm Service Agency programs including disaster assistance programs like LFP, must file timely acreage reports by contacting your local FSA office. Livestock producers interested in applying for LFP or have any eligibility questions should contact Keadin Fujii at the Hawaii County FSA Office at 808-933-8338.

More information in USDA disaster assistance is available at farmers.gov/recover.