Texas Lawmakers Introduce Program to Help Ranchers Affected by Natural Disasters
Two Texas lawmakers proposed legislation under a farm bill proposal that would extend aid through the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) to include losses of unborn animals due to weather-related disasters.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, who represents the Panhandle, introduced the Senate and House versions of the Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act last week.
The legislation comes after the Panhandle experienced the state’s largest wildfire and one of the largest in the nation earlier this year.
Thousands of cattle, including bred cows, were lost in the fires.
“Texas ranchers are the backbone of the Texas agriculture industry. After wildfires engulfed the Panhandle earlier this year, at least 7,000 cattle perished. These fires devastated Texas ranchers, who are now struggling to rebuild,” Cruz said. “I am proud to introduce legislation to strengthen the Livestock Indemnity Program. This will give Texas cattle producers the relief they need to build back their herds and restore this pillar of Texas agriculture.”
The proposal would add a Livestock Indemnity Program payment rate specifically for unborn losses in gestating livestock.
Currently, livestock owners receive 75% of the market value of livestock lost if they provide documentation, including wildfires, that directly caused the animal’s death. Those losses do not cover unborn livestock.
“While the Livestock Indemnity Program will assist affected livestock producers with cattle losses due to the wildfires, their recovery has been set back several years due to the limitations on the program’s ability to compensate for unborn livestock losses from the loss of pregnant livestock,” Jackson said. “By creating a payment rate for unborn livestock losses, we can better assist our producers, helping them recover quicker and mitigating the long-term effects of these wildfires.”
If passed, the change would apply to losses since Jan. 1.
Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) supports the legislation.
“As Texas farmers and ranchers continue working to recover from devastating wildfires, it is critical to provide as much assistance and flexibility as possible to help them get back on their feet,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “We thank Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Ronny Jackson for introducing the ‘Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act’ to compensate ranchers who lost unborn calves due the wildfires.”
In addition to TFB, the legislation is supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
