Central Louisiana News

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) announced the introduction of H.R. 5691, the Drought Assistance Improvement Act. This bill will amend the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and improve the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).

As it currently stands, the Livestock Forage Disaster Program requires cattle producers to be at a level of Severe Drought (D2) for eight consecutive weeks to qualify for one month of disaster relief. The U.S. Drought Monitor is responsible for documenting the location, intensity, and length of droughts across the country, which is then used by USDA to determine when drought relief programs kick in. However, the Drought Monitor has not always been able to update information quickly enough, potentially leaving producers who are experiencing rapid drought conditions without any aid. Letlow’s Drought Assistance Improvement Act makes common sense changes to allow for one monthly payment when a parish has four consecutive weeks of a Severe Drought (D2) rating and two payments for eight consecutive weeks of D2. This change will match a farmers safety net closer to the losses they are experiencing at the farm gate real-time.

In addition, the bill will expand ELAP coverage for farm-raised fish producers (including crawfish farmers) who have experienced losses caused by extreme weather or drought.

“Louisiana has been experiencing record droughts, affecting the livelihood of our farmers and producers,” said Congresswoman Letlow. “Eight weeks of drought conditions is far too long for farmers to have to wait for assistance while they only receive one month of payment in return. I’ve proposed we lower this metric to four weeks to ensure our farmers and producers can continue their family farming operations that are crucial to our region.”

This bill will:

• Modify the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) to allow for one monthly payment when a Parish has 4 consecutive weeks of a Severe Drought (D2) rating and two monthly payments for 8 consecutive weeks of D2.
• Expand coverage of the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses caused by adverse weather or drought.
• Require the Secretary of Agriculture to provide documentation standards relating to decreased production of crawfish due to drought conditions, providing producers with clearer rules and better understanding of program requirements.

Letlow continued: “This proposal is the first step in addressing shortcomings of how we use the drought monitor system to distribute disaster relief payments to our hardworking producers.”

The Drought Assistance Improvement Act has garnered support from the Louisiana Farm Bureau, noting: “Farm Bureau stands behind the Drought Assistance Improvement Act to make the disaster programs in the Farm Bill work better for our cattle ranchers and crawfish farmers. As a crawfish farmer myself, I see what a lack of rain does to yields. I’m glad Congresswoman Letlow is working to have this unique Louisiana commodity added to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm Raised Fish Program. Congresswoman Letlow’s bill brings common sense to the Farm Bill by having one month of drought equal one month of support,” said Jim Harper, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation President.

Additionally with support from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, noting: “Cattle producers across the country are currently facing significant hardships due to the continued impact of multiple years of unprecedented drought and skyrocketing input costs. This legislation will give producers another important tool in the toolbox to combat severe drought, while still giving the highest quality care to their cattle. NCBA thanks Rep. Letlow for introducing this critical legislation to help deliver timely relief to cattle producers experiencing extreme drought conditions,” said Allison Rivera, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs.

The text of the legislation is available here.