Livestock producers who lose unborn animals to weather-related disasters would qualify for aid through the Livestock Indemnity Program under a farm bill proposal that two Texas lawmakers are introducing following the wildfires that scorched the state's panhandle this year, killing more than 7,000 adult cattle.
The change to LIP would apply to losses since Jan. 1.
Rep. Ronny Jackson, who represents the panhandle, and Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday introduced the Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act, which would add a payment rate specifically for unborn losses in gestating livestock to a program that compensates ranchers for animal deaths caused by weather disasters, diseases or predator attacks.
The House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to debate a new farm bill May 23.
The Livestock Indemnity Program, first authorized in the 2018 farm bill, pays livestock owners 75% of the market value of livestock lost, if they can provide evidence that a disaster or prediction directly caused the animal’s death. Wildfires are among the disasters covered recognized under the program.
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The bill is supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Cattlemen's Beef Association, as well as the Texas Farm Bureau and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
Jackson, in a statement, said Texas ranchers’ recovery has “been set back several years due to the limitations on the program’s ability to compensate for unborn livestock losses from the loss of pregnant livestock.”
"By creating a payment rate for unborn livestock losses, we can better assist our producers, helping them recover quicker and mitigating the long-term effects of these wildfires,” Jackson said.
Cruz said the bill would "give Texas cattle producers the relief they need to build back their herds and restore this pillar of Texas agriculture.”
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