Assistance Available for Connecticut Producers Impacted by Flooding and Hail

Following recent flooding and hail events across Connecticut, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering the following programs to assist impacted farmers and livestock producers.

Available Assistance Programs

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)

Compensates producers for livestock deaths exceeding normal mortality or reduced sales due to injury. To participate, producers have to provide acceptable documentation of death losses or evidence of reduced sales resulting from an eligible adverse weather event and must submit a notice of loss to the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) no later than the annual program payment application date, which is 60 calendar days following the calendar year in which the loss occurred.

Deadline: March 3, 2025, for 2024 calendar year losses

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)

Provides compensation for feed and grazing losses. Producers are required to complete a notice of loss and a payment application to their local FSA office no later than the annual program application deadline.

Deadline: January 30, 2025, for 2024 calendar year losses

Tree Assistance Program (TAP)

Offers cost-share assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes or vines. TAP complements the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or crop insurance coverage, which covers the crop but not the plants or trees in all cases.

Deadline: Within 90 days of the disaster event or when loss becomes apparent

Farm Loans

FSA offers direct and guaranteed loans, including emergency farm loans, for producers unable to secure commercial financing. Producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses. Loans can help producers replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed, cover family living expenses, or refinance farm-related debts and other needs.

FSA also offers several loan servicing options available for borrowers who are unable to make scheduled payments on their farm loan programs debt to the agency because of reasons beyond their control.

FSA’s Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)

ECP and EFRP can assist landowners and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to restore fencing, damaged farmland or forests, and remove debris from feed stocks, water supplies and feeding areas.

Next Steps

1. Contact your local USDA Service Center to report losses and explore program options.
2. Prepare documentation, including farm records, herd inventory, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.
3. For crop insurance claims, notify your agent within 72 hours of discovering damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.
4. For NAP covered crops, file a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) within 15 days of the loss becoming apparent (72 hours for hand-harvested crops).

For more information on USDA disaster assistance, visit farmers.gov or contact your local USDA Service Center.