On Nov. 24, portions of Tallahatchie County were determined to have been at D4 level on the U.S. Drought Monitor for four consecutive weeks, activating a fifth month of LFP feed compensation for the exceptional drought level.
This allows eligible livestock producers with pastures in Tallahatchie County to receive assistance in an amount equal to five months of payments.
FSA will calculate LFP payments at a rate equal to 60% of the monthly feed cost determined by national payment rates based on the size and type of livestock that a producer owns and maintains on pasture located in Tallahatchie County.
Producers who have previously received 2023 benefits based on four months will automatically receive the additional month payment to increase it to five. Producers signing up and getting LFP benefits for the first time will get the full five months’ worth of feed compensation in the initial payment.
Five months of LFP benefits is the maximum amount that is allowed under LFP. The grazing period for summer grasses ends on Nov. 30 each year. Any additional duration of the drought at D4 or at any level will no longer affect LFP payments in any county in Mississippi.
Applications can be filed at the Tallahatchie County FSA office, located in the USDA Service Center at 360 West Cypress St., Charleston. The office phone number is 662-647-8857, then select extension 2 for FSA.
The final date to apply for 2023 LFP is Jan. 30, 2024. To date, over 85 applications for 2023 LFP assistance have been filed, approved and payments disbursed in Tallahatchie County.
Surrounding counties also have LFP activated, as the drought for much of the state is considered exceptional and affects all counties in Mississippi at some level. Not all counties in our area of the state are eligible for five months of payments. Some are still at four months. Producers with livestock grazing in other surrounding counties should check with the FSA office serves that county.
