News Releases for October 2006
October 5, 2006
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven Announces Application Process For USDA Livestock Assistance Grant Program
Livestock Assistance Grant Program Application Guidelines 
(93kb pdf)
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today announced an Internet-based process for livestock producers to apply for financial assistance under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Livestock Assistance Grant Program (LAGP). The State of North Dakota was allocated $1,807,850 to distribute directly to livestock producers whose forage was adversely impacted by the 2006 drought.
Following basic guidelines provided by USDA, the Governor’s office, along with several agriculture groups, the North Dakota State University Extension Service, and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, developed criteria, policies and procedures to disburse the funds. Applications must be submitted electronically through the State of North Dakota Web site, www.nd.gov, during the month of October 2006. Applications will only be accepted through the secure web link by November 1, 2006. Because this is a grant to the state, applications will not be accepted or processed at USDA offices in North Dakota.
“We have worked hard to create an efficient and easy way for livestock producers in the most seriously affected drought areas to apply for a portion of this grant to help them with reduced hay and forage owing to drought,” said Hoeven.
The LAGP is part of a nationwide $50 million fund announced on August 29, 2006, by USDA Secretary Mike Johanns to provide some assistance to drought affected livestock producers in the form of grants to individual states. The $1.8 million is to be delivered directly to livestock producers in the 27 North Dakota counties, which were in the D3 (extreme) or D4 (exceptional) category on the US Drought Monitor sometime during the summer of 2006.
“While we continue to press Washington for substantive relief in the form of agriculture disaster assistance legislation, we appreciate this livestock assistance that Agriculture Secretary Johanns was able to identify in USDA’s discretionary funds,” Hoeven said. “I encourage producers to access the state Web site and apply as soon as possible.”
Beef, dairy, bison, horse and sheep producers who had a forage loss due to the drought, and whose ranch headquarters are in the qualifying counties may apply for funds. The eligible counties are: Adams, Benson, Billings, Bowman, Burleigh, Dickey, Dunn, Emmons, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Grant, Hettinger, Kidder, Logan, McIntosh, Mercer, Morton, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Ramsey, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Towner, Traill and Walsh. A weighting factor will be applied to applications from each county reflecting the number of weeks that the county was in the D3 or D4 category drought.
Applications must be submitted via the Internet by the November 1, 2006, deadline. Producers who do not have Internet or computer access should be able to find assistance from a number of sources including:
- NDSU Extension Service offices located in qualified counties in North Dakota
- AgCountry Farm Credit Services – Fargo, Farm Credit Service of Grand Forks – Grand Forks, Farm Credit Services of Mandan – Mandan, Farm Credit Service of North Dakota – Minot
- The main office and field staff of agricultural organizations including the ND Stockman’s Association, the ND Farmers Union and the ND Farm Bureau
- Agriculture-based lenders
- Schools or libraries
The $1.8 million will be prorated based on the number of applications received. It is estimated that payments will range from a possible low of $.65 per head in several northeastern counties, to a possible $7.85 per head in Emmons and Sioux counties, which were in the drought for several weeks. In order to direct the funds to producers with the greatest need, applicants qualifying for less than $50 will not be eligible to receive a payment. The maximum allowable payment per recipient is $10,000.
Applicants are self-certifying on the Web site, but they should maintain documentation that proves livestock ownership and proof of forage loss. Before funds are disbursed, some applicants will be asked to provide verification of the numbers in their applications.
Basic program guidelines were determined by the USDA, but the determination of the specific features and policies of the North Dakota plan involves several organizations. Assisting the Governor’s Office in program development and administration are the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the NDSU Extension Service, the North Dakota Stockman’s Association, the Lamb and Wool Producers, the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota, the North Dakota Farm Bureau and the North Dakota Farmers Union.
Technical assistance is being provided by the state Office of Management and Budget and the Information Technology Department, as well as the state USDA office of the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Agricultural Statistics Office.
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