USDA reminds producers of ELAP deadline

Jan 09, 2025
By Farms.com

January 30 deadline for disaster assistance applications

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that producers affected by specific 2024 disasters must apply for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) by January 30, 2025.

This assistance aims to support recovery from adverse weather, disease outbreaks, and other extraordinary events.

“USDA recognizes the broad scope of production risk our farmers and ranchers face every day,” said Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

“The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program provides an important financial safety net, helping our producers rebound from weather and disease impacts.”

ELAP Coverage -

Losses from H5N1 in dairy cattle, including milk production losses.

Feed and grazing losses not covered by drought or wildfires on federal land.

Increased costs for transporting feed or water due to adverse conditions.

Honeybee and farm-raised fish losses caused by eligible weather or disease events.

Dairy producers specifically impacted by H5N1 must apply for assistance for 2024 losses by January 30, 2025. This includes cases where cattle are removed from milking due to positive H5N1 tests.

Producers are encouraged to provide documentation, such as veterinary records and receipts, to support their applications.

For more details, visit the USDA ELAP webpage - ELAP for Livestock; ELAP for Honeybees; ELAP for Farm-raised Fish and ELAP for H5N1-impacted dairies.

Video: Advancing Swine Disease Traceability: USDA's No-Cost RFID Tag Program for Market Channels

On-demand webinar, hosted by the Meat Institute, experts from the USDA, National Pork Board (NPB) and Merck Animal Health introduced the no-cost 840 RFID tag program—a five-year initiative supported through African swine fever (ASF) preparedness efforts. Beginning in Fall 2025, eligible sow producers, exhibition swine owners and State Animal Health Officials can order USDA-funded RFID tags through Merck A2025-10_nimal Health.

NPB staff also highlighted an additional initiative, funded by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services through NPB, that helps reduce the cost of transitioning to RFID tags across the swine industry and strengthens national traceability efforts.

Topics Covered:

•USDA’s RFID tag initiative background and current traceability practices

•How to access and order no-cost 840 RFID tags

•Equipment support for tag readers and panels

•Implementation timelines for market and cull sow channels How RFID improves ASF preparedness an