WASHINGTON —  U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Administrator Juan M. Garcia has announced that farmers and ranchers can now sign up for disaster assistance programs, reestablished and strengthened by the 2014 Farm Bill.

The Livestock Indemnity Program and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program will provide payments to eligible producers for livestock deaths and grazing losses that have occurred since the expiration of the livestock disaster assistance programs in 2011, and including calendar years 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Enrollment also began April 15 for producers with losses covered by the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, the Farm-Raised Fish Program and the Tree Assistance Program for eligible events occurring from 2011, when the programs expired, through 2014.

FSA Maine State Executive Director, Donovan Todd said all Maine county office employees are receiving training to implement the programs and are ready to answer questions and service eligible requests.

“To expedite applications, all producers who experienced losses are encouraged to bring records documenting those losses to their local FSA county office,” said Todd.

Producers also are encouraged to contact their county office ahead of time to schedule an appointment.

For more information, producers may review the 2014 Farm Bill Fact Sheet, check out the LIP, LFP, ELAP and TAP fact sheets online or visit any USDA Service Center.