The Farm Service Agency of USDA is making an online tool available to help ranchers document and estimate payments to help cover the cost of feed transportation caused by the drought. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Eric Jennings says having that available through ELAP (the emergency assistance for livestock, honeybees and farm raised fish) will be helpful.

He’s thankful the FSA is making these drought relief programs more flexible in order to get aid out to producers in a quicker and more efficient manner.

The on line tool FSA is providing is a Microsoft Excel Workbook that enables ranchers to input information specific to their operations to determine an estimated payment. Jennings says that’s a major benefit for producers.

FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux says they’re continually working to make their programs as flexible as possible.