Drought assistance still available for livestock producers

Applications must be postmarked on or before Nov. 17.

The funding is through the department’s Livestock Assistance Grant Program to help producers recover forage production losses from 2006 drought conditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in August announced that it would provide $2.7 million to 30 Missouri counties that suffered the most loss.

Greene, Christian, Polk and Stone counties are among those eligible for the funds. Others are: Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Camden, Cass, Cedar, Cooper, Dade, Henry, Hickory, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, McDonald, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Newton, Pettis, Ray, St. Clair, Saline and Vernon counties.

So far, the MDA has received more than 5,000 applications from producers seeking assistance for more than 390,000 head of livestock.

Applications are available online at www.mda.mo.gov under “Drought Information,” or at Missouri Farm Service Agency offices and University of Missouri Extension offices in qualifying counties. Applications must be mailed to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, PO Box 630, Jefferson City, MO, 65102.

For more information, contact the department at (573) 526-4727 or lagp@mda.mo.gov.