Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) is urging agriculture producers who have suffered livestock and property losses in the recent wildfires to file a Notice of Loss with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to begin the federal assistance process. A Notice of Loss must be filed within 30 days of the time of the loss by phone or in person at a local USDA county service center. County service center locations can be found on their website at
https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
Sally and I continue to pray for those who have lost so much in recent days especially the families and friends of Sloan Everett Cody Crockett Sydney Wallace and Cade Koch. Nothing can ever replace the loss of their loved ones" Thornberry said. For those who have lost livestock and property it is important to assess the losses as soon as it is safe and begin the assistance process with the USDA."
To qualify you must have legally owned the eligible livestock poultry or swine on the day they died and they must:
- Have died due to an eligible weather event on or after Oct. 1 2011 and no later than 60 days from the end date of the event.
- Have been for commercial use in a farming operation on the day they died.
- Have died in the calendar year of requested benefits.
The program excludes wild free-roaming animals or pets or animals used for recreational purposes like for hunting roping or show.
You must have had possession and control of the livestock and a written agreement with the livestock owner. The specific terms conditions and obligations of both parties must be set.
The following resources and information have been provided by the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).
Agriculture Indemnity Program
Several programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill provide benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths due to wildfires and other natural disasters.
Livestock Supply Points
The following livestock supply points are currently receiving and distributing donated feed resources to producers impacted by wildfires. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is not involved in the donation or distribution process. FSA is however raising awareness of the supply point locations where resources are available to producers located in counties affected by wildfires.
Supply Point 1
Serving ranchers in Gray Wheeler and Roberts counties
301 Bull Barn Dr
Pampa TX
Contact: Mike Jeffcoat
Office: 806-669-8033
Cell: 580-467-0753
Supply Point 2
Serving ranchers in in Ochiltree Lipscomb Hemphill and Roberts counties
202 West Main St
Lipscomb TX
Contact: J.R. Spragg
Office: 806-862-4601
Cell: 806-202-5288
Texas Department of Agriculture Hay Hotline
TDAs hay hotline helps agricultural producers locate forage and hay supplies for sale. If you need hay or would like to donate hay visit
www.gotexan.org/hayhotlinehome.aspx or call 877-429-1998.
Carcass Disposal
For questions about carcass disposal call the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ) at 800-832-8224 or visit their website at
www.tceq.texas.gov.
Lost or Found Livestock
- If you find cattle or other livestock with official identification document the number location of the animal(s) and call the TAHC at 512-719-0733 or 806-354-9335 and TAHC will contact the owner. If you find stray cattle that have a brand call Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) at 817-332-7064 for brand identification.
If cattle have strayed onto your property you must report them to the sheriffs office in the county you are located in within five days of discovery to be eligible for reasonable payment for maintenance of or damages caused by the estray livestock. For more information regarding Texas estray laws visit:
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/AG/htm/AG.142.htm
