We have been taking signup for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), which is a program that provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths, in excess of normal mortality, caused by adverse weather. The livestock death losses must have occurred in 2010.

There are two steps to the LIP application process. The first is the notice of loss and the second is the actual application for payment. Right now, the most important thing is to file your notice of loss. Regulations state that producers must file a notice of loss in their administrative county office the earlier of 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent to the producer or 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the loss of livestock occurred. This almost always means 30 days after the date the animal died. If the loss is not reported within this 30-day period, then the loss is not eligible.

Many of you were aware that due to the severity of our winter weather and the inability of many producers to file a notice of loss timely, the West Virginia State FSA Committee (STC) had petitioned the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs in Washington, DC, for a waiver of the 30-day rule. I am happy to announce that a waiver has been granted. However, there is a restriction. The deadline to file a notice of loss under the waiver is April 30, 2010.

This does not provide very much time and I cannot express strongly enough how important this is. Any producer who lost livestock in 2010 due to the winter stormsr, must report those losses by April 30, 2010, in order to take advantage of the waiver. Please don’t let this deadline sneak up on you, it is only about a week away.

Anyone who has any questions about the LIP program should contact the FSA Office at 304- 799-4317 .