USDA to Provide Pandemic Assistance to Livestock Producers for Animal Losses
Jul 19, 2021
Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses due to insufficient processing access during the pandemic can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) as part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept PLIP applications July 20 through Sept. 17, 2021.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, authorized payments to producers for losses of livestock or poultry depopulated before Dec. 26, 2020, due to insufficient processing access. PLIP payments will be based on 80 percent of the fair market value of the livestock and poultry and for the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animal as outlined on farmers.gov/plip. Eligible livestock and poultry include swine, chickens, and turkeys.
Program Details
Eligible livestock must have been depopulated from March 1, 2020, through Dec. 26, 2020, due to insufficient processing access as a result of the pandemic. Livestock must have been physically located in the U.S. or a territory of the U.S. at the time of depopulation. Eligible livestock owners include persons or legal entities who, as of the day the eligible livestock was depopulated, had legal ownership of the livestock. Packers, live poultry dealers, and contract growers are not eligible for PLIP.
There is no per person or legal entity payment limitation on PLIP payments. To be eligible for payments, a person or legal entity must have an average adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $900,000 for tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018.
For joint ventures and general partnerships, this AGI provision will be applied to individual members.
Applying for Assistance
Eligible livestock and poultry producers can apply for PLIP by working with the FSA office at their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. Visit farmers.gov/plip for more information on how to apply.
For more content like this, check out the latest issue of the Cooperator.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, authorized payments to producers for losses of livestock or poultry depopulated before Dec. 26, 2020, due to insufficient processing access. PLIP payments will be based on 80 percent of the fair market value of the livestock and poultry and for the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animal as outlined on farmers.gov/plip. Eligible livestock and poultry include swine, chickens, and turkeys.
Program Details
Eligible livestock must have been depopulated from March 1, 2020, through Dec. 26, 2020, due to insufficient processing access as a result of the pandemic. Livestock must have been physically located in the U.S. or a territory of the U.S. at the time of depopulation. Eligible livestock owners include persons or legal entities who, as of the day the eligible livestock was depopulated, had legal ownership of the livestock. Packers, live poultry dealers, and contract growers are not eligible for PLIP.
There is no per person or legal entity payment limitation on PLIP payments. To be eligible for payments, a person or legal entity must have an average adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $900,000 for tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018.
For joint ventures and general partnerships, this AGI provision will be applied to individual members.
Applying for Assistance
Eligible livestock and poultry producers can apply for PLIP by working with the FSA office at their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. Visit farmers.gov/plip for more information on how to apply.
For more content like this, check out the latest issue of the Cooperator.