When drought hits, ranchers face a cascade of financial pressures: rising feed costs, deteriorating grazing land, shrinking water supplies, and sometimes the heartbreaking decision to sell down herd numbers years before planned. The U.S. drought monitor has shown expanding drought coverage across major livestock-producing regions in recent years, making drought preparedness an operational necessity rather than a contingency plan.

The good news is that USDA's Farm Service Agency has developed a robust set of disaster assistance programs specifically designed to help livestock producers survive drought. Understanding these programs before drought strikes, and having your records in order, is the difference between accessing assistance quickly and missing out entirely.

The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): Your Primary Drought Tool

The Livestock Forage Disaster Program, commonly known as LFP, is the most significant FSA disaster assistance tool available to ranchers dealing with drought. LFP compensates eligible livestock producers for grazing losses on pasture or rangeland that suffers reduced productivity due to drought. Coverage applies to owned or cash-leased grazing land and is tied to drought severity as measured by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

To be eligible for LFP, producers must be in a county that has been rated at drought intensity D2 (Severe Drought) or higher by the U.S. Drought Monitor for at least eight consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period, or D3 (Extreme Drought) or D4 (Exceptional Drought) at any point. Covered livestock includes beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and other grazing animals.

LFP payment rates are calculated based on 60 percent of the estimated monthly feed cost for the eligible livestock, multiplied by the number of eligible livestock and the number of months of grazing loss. Importantly, you must have had the livestock on the grazing land before the drought designation; retroactive coverage isn't available. Applying requires filing a notice of loss with your FSA county office — don't miss the deadline or you lose access entirely.

ELAP: When Drought Triggers Feed and Water Emergencies

The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) covers losses that aren't addressed by LFP. Where LFP compensates for grazing losses, ELAP compensates for additional feed costs incurred because forage was not available, including purchased feed, transporting livestock to better grazing, and water hauling when drought depletes water sources.

Notice of loss deadlines for ELAP are strict: you generally must file within 30 days of when the loss became apparent. Keep detailed records of all feed purchases, water hauling receipts, and livestock death records.

NAP: Protection for Non-Insurable Crops

If you grow hay, forage crops, or other commodities that aren't eligible for federal crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) is your alternative safety net. NAP provides coverage for production losses on non-insurable crops caused by natural disasters, including drought. NAP coverage must be purchased before the application closing date for your crop. You cannot buy in after disaster strikes.

The Emergency Conservation Program and Tree Assistance Program

The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) helps farmers and ranchers rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters, including drought-induced wind erosion and loss of permanent fencing caused by wildfires. For producers who lost orchards, vineyards, or other perennial plantings, the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) provides cost-share payments for replanting. The Emergency Loan Program offers low-interest loans to bridge cash flow gaps after severe drought.

How to Prepare Before Drought Hits

The single most important thing ranchers can do is maintain current records with their FSA county office. This includes: farm records, livestock inventories, land records, and active producer status. Producers who aren't registered with FSA before a disaster strikes face delays in getting assistance.

Monitor drought conditions at droughtmonitor.unl.edu and use USDA's Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool at farmers.gov to identify programs you may be eligible for. FarmRaise's FSA Educational Hub, developed in partnership with the Farm Service Agency, provides step-by-step application guidance for various programs. Visit farmraise.com to access the Hub.