Natural Disaster Resources

Natural Disaster Guidance for the Dairy Industry

Many producers face urgent needs to take precautions to protect themselves, their workforce and their livestock during unusual climate events. And because emergencies and disasters can occur at any time and without warning regardless of where a farm is located, all dairy producers should consider developing or updating Emergency Action Plans on their farms. Guidance for dairy farmers who may be affected by natural disasters is listed below, along with general emergency preparedness resources.

Winter Weather Emergency Resources

Emergency Preparedness

Workforce Safety

Animal Care

Recovery

Summer Weather Preparedness and Safety

Emergency Preparedness

Workforce Safety

Animal Care


Wildfire Resources


Hurricane Resources

General Disaster Resources

Disaster Relief Resources

  • Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool: Learn about USDA disaster assistance programs that might be right for you by completing five simple steps.
  • Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): LIP provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather. LIP payments are equal to 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock.
  • Livestock Forage Program (LFP)LFP provides payments to eligible livestock owners who have covered livestock and who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage that have suffered a loss of grazed forage due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county.
  • Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP): ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock for losses due to certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, such as losses not covered by LFP or LIP.
  • Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters.
  • Emergency Conservation Program (ECP):ECP helps farmers and ranchers to repair damage to farmlands caused by natural disasters and to help put in place methods for water conservation during severe drought. The ECP does this by giving ranchers and farmers funding and assistance to repair the damaged farmland or to install methods for water conservation.