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July reporting deadline critical for Nebraska livestock producers

Nebraska livestock producers have until July 15 to file an acreage report to help maintain eligibility for drought assistance.

State FSA Director Hillary Maricle tells Brownfield enrolling forage acres is a critical step in the process. “What this does is it allows them to be set up and ready to go for programs like Livestock Forage Disaster Program or LFP for that key drought assistance which is really useful to them.”

She says there is a provision allowing for a late file. “There’s a small fee, but if you are applying for LFP, you need to have the certification done prior to putting in the application for LFP assistance.”

LFP compensates livestock producers for grazing losses caused by drought on privately owned or leased land. Applications for 2026 losses are due March 1, 2027.

Maricle says it can be easy for livestock producers to overlook the deadline. “Crops don’t miss the certification and they’re in every year. With livestock, we get a couple of years behind and then there is a lot of paperwork when you come in and want to do a disaster program. We have to play catch-up for certification that we’ve missed.”

She says producers should contact their local FSA office to see if they’re eligible or visit the state website.

Hillary Maricle: