On April 24, USDA announced changes to its Livestock Indemnity Program. Producers who lost livestock to diseases directly related to an eligible adverse weather event may now be eligible for assistance. North Dakota Farm Service Agency Livestock Program Specialist Brad Olson says local FSA offices are able to accept veterinarian certifications. “The Department is working on a form that should be available by the end of May. Information such as the date of death, location, type of disease, etc. would have to be certified by a veterinarian.” Unfortunately, North Dakota doesn’t have many eligible weather events on the calendar this year. “There’s some out there, but it’d have to be a blizzard or three day winter storm that caused pneumonia or scours.”
