Agricultural News
Dr. Amy Hagerman Says Oklahoma Producers Can and Should Seek Drought Assistance
Fri, 08 Oct 2021 13:34:52 CDT
It has been hot in Oklahoma. It has been dry in Oklahoma. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, 92% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions or worse and nearly 70% percent of the state is classified as in a drought.
KC Sheperd, associate farm director for the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, spoke with Dr. Amy Hagerman, state extension specialist in agricultural and food policy at Oklahoma State University, about aid offered through the government for farmers and livestock producers.
"The Livestock Forage Program is an emergency program for any producer who is dependent on grazing," Hagerman said. "In the state of Oklahoma, we are mainly talking about our cow-calf producers."
In addition to beef cattle producers, LFP eligible species include alpacas, buffalo, bison, beefalo, deer, elk, emus, goats, horses, llamas, reindeer and sheep, according to OSU.
Oklahoma counties with warm season pastures that qualify for LFP assistance are: Beaver, Caddo, Canadian, Cimarron, Creek, Grady, Harper, Hughes, Kiowa, Noble, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Tulsa, Washita and Woods.
Oklahoma counties with cool season pastures that qualify for LFP assistance are: Beaver, Beckham, Carter, Cimarron, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Love, Roger Mills, Texas and Washita.
Some counties are only eligible for certain pasture types such as forage sorghum or annual crabgrass, according to OSU.
She said LFP aid is dependent on U.S. Drought Monitor categories.
"We have got a lot of counties, not only in the west where we normally see some drought, but in the northeast and central areas of the state also," Hagerman said. "For most producers who have applied for any kind of USDA Farm Service Agency program in the past, they probably have already been contacted by their county FSA officer, if they are eligible."
Producers who are curious can go to the Disaster Assistance Program webpage and look at a list of counties and the types of grasses that are eligible in those counties, Hagerman said.
"That is actually a really important point," Hagerman said. "Not every kind of pasture will be eligible for LFP in every county."
Hagerman also spoke with Sheperd about additions to the Certified Reserve Program. She said there are counties in Oklahoma that are so affected by drought that emergency grazing on CRP lands is available for producers.
No matter what operation Oklahoma producers are operating, the first step they should take is contacting their local FSA office, according to Hagerman.
Hagerman also encouraged producers to sign up for a text-alert program by clicking here and choosing the SMS/Text Message option in the drop-down menu for subscription type. She said this is a great what to get the latest news and updates from the USDA.
Lastly, she said farmers.gov is a good source of information also.
Hit the LISTEN BAR below to hear KC's conversation with Dr. Amy Hagerman on drought assistance for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.
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