Wednesday the Senate Ag Committee held a hearing on USDA implementation and progress of 2014 Farm Bill programs. South Dakota Senator John Thune says he asked Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide an update on livestock disaster programs, including the applications and payments for the Livestock Forage Program and Livestock Indemnity Program. Vilsack says signup started April 15 and payments are already going out to South Dakota producers.
Thune believes the payments will help livestock producers to get back on their feet.
The livestock disaster programs will cover both 2012 and 2013 losses. Thune also secured a 10-year baseline for the programs to ensure they will not expire before the end of the 2014 Farm Bill,