LEWISTON – Farmers who missed the application deadline for the Livestock Compensation Program have an opportunity to re-apply for benefits at the Androscoggin-Sagadahoc County Farm Service Agency.

The program is intended to help livestock farmers overcome loss of feedstocks caused by last year’s drought. Under the revised program, it is available to all farmers in any county who received a presidential or secretarial disaster declaration during the past two years. Every county in Maine has received a designation, making all livestock producers eligible.

Producers are paid for each eligible head of livestock owned as of June 1, 2002, as long as the animals were owned for a 90-day period that included the June 1 date. Eligible livestock are beef cattle and dairy cattle, buffalo and beefalo weighing more than 500 pounds. Goats and sheep are also eligible regardless of their size. Animals used for recreation or recreational businesses do not qualify.

Farmers enrolled and paid under the first program or whose application was disapproved because they exceeded the $2.5 million gross revenue requirement are not eligible for the revised program. It is for livestock producers who did not file an application or did not submit a timely application under the previous sign-up period.

The program is scheduled to end in early June. Contact the Androscoggin-Sagadahoc County office at 753-9400, extension 300, for details.