For 2017 livestock deaths, a notice of loss must have been filed with the local FSA office within 30 calendar days from when the loss was apparent.

To be eligible for LIP, producers who suffered livestock deaths due to an adverse weather from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 must have submitted a notice of loss within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock was first apparent. An application for payment must be filed with their local FSA County Office by the March 31, 2018 deadline. Eligible adverse weather events include, but are not limited to, earthquake, hail, lightning, tornado, winter storm (lasting 3 consecutive days with high winds, freezing rain/sleet, heavy snowfall and extremely cold temperatures), floods, blizzards, wild fires, extreme heat, extreme cold, anthrax, straight-line winds, and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae poisoning) that directly results in the death of eligible livestock more than normal mortality.

Livestock producers must provide proof of death and inventory numbers of eligible livestock that died due to an eligible adverse weather event. The inventory numbers represent the number of eligible livestock before and after the adverse weather event(s) that cause the death of the livestock. Beginning and ending inventory documents can include, veterinary records, balance sheets, inventory numbers used for tax purposes, loan records, sales and purchase records and other similar documents. Proof of death documentation may be rendering truck receipts, FEMA records, veterinary records, private insurance documents, contemporaneous records that existed at the time of the weather event(s), pictures with a date, and other similar documents.

Program Dates and Deadlines

Jan. 15: 2018 Acreage Reporting Deadline for Established Stand Alfalfa Seed, Fall Alfalfa Seed and Cherries. Please note that this is the Final Acreage Reporting Deadline for 2017 Established Stand Alfalfa Seed, Fall Alfalfa Seed and Cherries.

Jan. 30: Deadline for 2017 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) Application for Payment and Supporting Documentation

Jan. 30: Deadline for 2017 Tree Assistance Program (TAP) Application for Payment and Supporting Documentation for Loss of 2017 (or 90 days after disaster event or loss was apparent.)

Feb. 1: Final Availability Date for Loans and Loan Deficiency Payment (LDP) for Mohair, Unshorn Pelts (LDP only) and Wool

For more information, contact your local FSA office and/or visit Montana FSA online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/mt.