The USDA Farm Service Agency reported the deadline to apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) is January 30, 2025. This program targets losses due to specific adverse conditions that occurred in 2024. It includes dairy producers affected by the bird flu outbreak.

ELAP assists with:

  • Livestock and feed grazing losses not caused by drought or wildfires
  • Livestock feed losses due to feed purchased of mechanically harvested feed being destroyed
  • Cost of transporting water to livestock due to a drought
  • Above normal costs to haul feed to cattle or haul cattle to feed due to a drought
  • Cost associated with gathering livestock for treatment and/or inspection related to cattle tick fever
  • Honeybee feed, colony and hive losses because of colony collapse or adverse weather
  • Cost of removing dairy cattle from milking due to positive bird flu test confirmed by the USDA

Under the bird flu provision, adult dairy cattle must be maintained for commercial milk production and be lactating. Assistance is available for up to 120 days after a positive bird flu test. The USDA has already provided $80 million in ELAP assistance to help dairy producers to offset the cost of lost milk production.

Other conditions that may trigger ELAP assistance include blizzards, drought, winter storms, excessive wind, floods, hail (only for grazing loss), hurricanes, lightning, tidal surge and tornadoes. Payments are based on a percentage of the fair market value. Not all eligible loss conditions are applicable to all categories of ELAP assistance, and producers are encouraged to visit with their county FSA office for more information.

Read more on ELAP and the rapidly approaching deadline here.