Wisconsin Ag Connection - FSA Announces Updates for Honeybee Producer Assistance

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FSA Announces Updates for Honeybee Producer Assistance
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 04/09/2020

The USDA's Farm Service Agency announced updates to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program. These changes were brought on by the 2018 Farm Bill as well as discretionary changes intended to improve the administration of the program and clarify existing program requirements.

"Honeybee producers should pay close attention to the ELAP program changes to ensure they meet the new deadline requirements," said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. "These changes better align two key disaster assistance program deadlines to provide consistency and ease of management for honeybee producers."

ELAP was previously administered based on FSA's fiscal year but will now run according to the calendar year. Producers are still required to submit an application for payment within 30 calendar days of the end of the program year. This is not a policy change but will affect the deadline.

For honeybees, ELAP covers colony losses, honeybee hive losses (the physical structure) and honeybee feed losses in instances where the colony, hive or feed has been destroyed by a natural disaster or, in the case of colony losses, because of Colony Collapse Disorder. Colony losses must be in excess of normal mortality.

The signup deadline for calendar year 2020 losses is January 30, 2021.

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