Thune: Legislation Would Help Livestock Producers

Senator John Thune recently introduced legislation designed to make updates to the Livestock Forage Program and the Livestock Indemnity Program.  The goal, according to the South Dakota Republican, is to get producers the help they need through LFP twice as fast as the current rate.

“The bill would modify the LFP language to allow a one month payment when a county reaches the D2 level, the drought designation, what we refer to Severe Drought category, for four consecutive weeks compared to the eight weeks under current law.  And when a country reaches D2 for eight consecutive weeks, they would be eligible for another month’s payment.”

Thune added his legislation would also help owners after livestock suffer from weather related disease outbreaks.

“Every livestock producer that I know would do everything possible to save livestock and this legislation would help defend livestock owners from unneeded bureaucracy and in many cases unfortunate and costly determinations in eligibility under the LIP program.”

Thune said it’s important to not penalize producers in any way when they lose livestock due to circumstances beyond their control.

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