The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced further changes to the Livestock Risk Protection Insurance program for crop year 2021 and succeeding crop years. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Eric Jennings says those changes will be beneficial for South Dakota’s cattle producers.

He says another change the USDA made will help those who forward contract livestock.

Jennings says the USDA also is now allowing unborn livestock to be insured which was one of their group’s original recommendations.

Under USDA’s rule livestock head limits were increased for feeder cattle to 6,000 head per endorsement or 12,000 head annually and swine to 40,000 head per endorsement or 150,000 head annually.