Courtney Announces Resources for Farmers, Livestock Producers Affected by Winter Storm

Press Release

Congressman Joe Courtney today announced resources available for eastern Connecticut livestock producers and farmers who have been affected by recent winter storms and snow accumulation. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers may be eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs that help producers recover from livestock deaths and other losses.

"Over the past few days, I have seen firsthand the tremendous toll these storms have taken on farms across our region," said Courtney, who on Saturday visited a Hampton farm that lost dairy cows in a barn collapse. "As we continue to dig out and work to recover, it is important for farmers and small businessmen and women to know there are resources available to help. If they have not already, they should document their expenses, and contact FSA and my office as soon as possible."

FSA administers several programs that help producers recover from: livestock deaths that are beyond normal mortality rates; losses of purchased and/or harvested forage; and with the additional costs of providing or transporting feed. Key programs include: the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). For livestock death losses to be eligible under LIP, producers must file a notice of loss with their local FSA office within 30 calendar days from when the loss is apparent to the producer.

Farmers can contact their county FSA office at:

Middlesex and New Haven County - (203) 269-6665
New London County - (860) 859-5218
Hartford and Tolland Counties - (860) 688-7725.
Windham County - (860) 774-0224

Fact sheets for these two programs can be found at http://www.fsa.usda.gov; click on Newsroom, then Fact Sheets.

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