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The 2014 Farm Bill and Disaster Assistance for Livestock Producers

After nearly three years of formal debate, one extension, and two unmet deadlines, Congress passed the 2014 Farm Bill, officially called the "Agricultural Act of 2014" with the President signing the bill on February 7, 2014. The bill makes budget cuts and program reforms in many areas and sets federal farm and food policy through 2018. An overview and title-by-title discussion provides insight on the new farm bill and the program changes ahead for producers, landowners, and others.

Overview
The commodity title in the 2014 Farm Bill includes the re-authorization and funding of a portfolio of agricultural disaster assistance programs that will be a strong help to livestock producers. While the programs are projected to provide several hundred million dollars of disaster assistance each year across the country according to Congressional Budget Office spending estimates, they will provide much more in 2014.

The disaster assistance programs are not just re-authorized and funded going forward, but have been renewed retroactively for losses dating back to 2012, when the previous authorization had first expired. To cover the pending losses from 2012 and 2013 as well as potential losses ahead in 2014, the programs are projected to spend nearly $900 million nationally in the coming year, providing substantial support to producers who have been absorbing disaster losses in the livestock sector since 2012.

The disaster assistance includes

  • the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) for abnormal death losses due to agricultural disasters,
  • the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for drought and fire losses to grazing  capacity,
  • the Emergency Assistance Program for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) for other livestock disaster losses, and
  • the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) for disaster losses for orchard and nursery tree growers.

Agricultural disaster assistance is available to eligible producers and is limited to a cumulative $125,000 per person per year across all programs.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers the disaster assistance programs and has rushed efforts to get this assistance out to producers promptly, with sign-up set to begin on or before April 15.

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Advancement Through Science: The Purpose of the Beef Cattle Research Council

Video: Advancement Through Science: The Purpose of the Beef Cattle Research Council

Every time a beef animal is sold in Canada, the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off is collected, and a portion of it funds research and extension through the Beef Cattle Research Council.

The BCRC has a vision of a transparent, competitive and sustainable Canadian beef industry. And, we’re on a mission to support growth in beef demand, increase productivity and earn public trust. Research investments by producers are making that happen.

The BCRC works to advance the Canadian beef industry through industry-led research and extension. We create practical tools and resources that help producers make improvements in:

?? animal health and welfare,

?? forage and grassland productivity

?? feed efficiency and nutrition

?? beef quality and safety and

??environmental sustainability.

Guided by a board of producers from across Canada, the BCRC has one goal -- to make every producer-paid research dollar count. For each dollar invested through the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off, we leverage two to three dollars from other funding sources.

By bridging the gap between research and real-life application, we empower producers to make economical, science-based decisions to help drive innovation, sustainability and profitability in their operations.

Where industry investment and collaboration intersect with research and ranching – that’s where we find advancement through science and the real purpose of the Beef Cattle Research Council.