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FSA TO ISSUE ELRP PAYMENTS FOR GRAZING The Midwest Cattleman · October 5, 2023 · P10
LOSSES IN 2021, 2022 LEGISLATION
USDA announced recent- drought and wildfire. To help continued from page 3
ly the Farm Service Agen- mitigate these losses, eligible
cy (FSA) will begin issuing ranchers will receive ELRP repayment in exchange for “Veterinarians in rural
more than $581 million to disaster assistance payments a three-year commitment to areas are crucial in main-
eligible ranchers through the for increases in supplemental practice in underserved com- taining animal health and
Emergency Livestock Relief feed costs. To expedite pay- munities. However, the pro- welfare, and ensuring ranch-
Program (ELRP). These pay- ments, determine producer gram currently is subject to a ers and farmers have access
ments will help those recov- eligibility and calculate the significant federal withhold- to care for their livestock,”
ering from drought and wild- ELRP 2022 payment, FSA is ing tax, which limits avail- said Sen. Crapo. “By ad-
fire in 2021 and 2022. using livestock inventories able resources and the reach dressing the overly burden-
Ranchers who lost grazing and drought-affected forage of its benefits. The Rural Vet- some taxes on the Veterinary
acres due to these natural di- acreage or restricted animal erinary Workforce Act would Medicine Loan Repayment
sasters in 2021 and received units and grazing days due provide an exemption from Program, we can improve ac-
assistance through ELRP to wildfire already reported the federal income withhold- cess to rural veterinary care,
Phase One soon will receive to the agency by ranchers ing tax for payments received while strengthening local
an additional payment. This when they submitted their under the program and simi- economies and protecting the
second payment will be equal Livestock Forage Disaster lar state programs, helping safety of our national food
to 20% of the 2021 gross Program applications. ELRP give more veterinarians the supply.”
phase one payment. ELRP payments for 2022 losses are opportunity to practice in The bipartisan bill was
Phase Two payments, which estimated at $465.4 million rural communities where co-sponsored by 12 senators,
are estimated to total $115.7 and also will be automatic their services are needed including Sen. Jerry Moran.
million, will be automatic with no application required. most. This change would re- KLA and NCBA also support
with no application required. For more information, con- flect similar exemptions pro- the legislation.
In 2022, ranchers contin- tact your local FSA office. vided to physicians and other KLA
ued to experience significant human health practitioners.
loss of grazing acres due to
CATTLE MARKET
continued from page 3
ilek explains: “To me, our notes: “Hopefully, the num-
tightest numbers have the bers show that we’re going
chance to be at the end of the to stay in a three-year cycle
fourth quarter and the begin- and we can encourage some
ning of the first quarter next of these young people to get
year. I’ll bet a steak dinner their footing.”
that we see the market above Profitability is needed for
200 (per cwt.) at some point the future of the industry be-
in the first quarter.” cause the average age of the
The key shift will be when cattle producer continues to
cattle producers start keep- rise, Rook adds.
ing heifers instead of selling Meanwhile, record cat-
them at these high prices, tle prices have caused beef
which hasn’t happened yet, packer margins to move into
Rook adds. the red, according to a recent
“We’re not seeing any sig- Sterling Beef Profit Track-
nificant heifer retention at er. Cattle feeding margins
this point,” says Todd Wilkin- gained about $10 per head
son, South Dakota cattle pro- last week, closing at an esti-
ducer and president of the mated $343 per head. Pack-
National Cattlemen’s Beef ers saw a $51 per head de-
U.S. HOUSE VOTES Association. “The drought cline, resulting in a loss of
continued from page 3 continues to be a problem $10.68 per head.
Animal and Plant Health In- untarily created by produc- in major cattle production Last week, cash cattle
areas. And, instead of us prices averaged $184.41 per
spection Service from requir- ers, for producers, and they being what was a maybe a cwt., up around $1.20 per
ing electronic IDs for cattle don't receive taxpayer dollars one-hit-wonder back in 2014 head, which is 22% higher
and bison. That amendment for any of their activities, or and 2015, I think we’re look- than last year’s $143.64 per
failed, 97-336. for USDA oversight of their ing at four or five (years) or cwt. cash price.
Speaking to defend the activities,” Thompson said. maybe even longer.”
checkoffs and the animal ID Regarding the animal ID Cattle producers surveyed Drovers
plan, House Agriculture Com- plan, Thompson said that in the Drovers State of the
mittee Chairman Glenn “GT” “traceability resources are Beef Industry shared a sen-
Thompson, R-Pa., argued the paramount when dealing timent of optimism for the
anti-checkoff proposal was with an animal disease out- industry. Additionally, 54% of
led by animal rights activists break.” operations shared they plan
that ultimately want to re- to add a family member in
duce consumption of animal the next five years.
products. Les Shaw, a cattle pro-
“These programs are vol- ducer near White Owl, S.D.,
