USDA finally provided some details on animal depopulation/disposal assistance for livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the COVID-19 pandemic due to insufficient access to processing.
Those producers can soon apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of animals under the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP). Signup will be from July 20 through Sept. 17. Payments will be based on 80% of the fair market value of the livestock and poultry and for the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animal from March 1 through Dec. 26, 2020. Payments will be based on a single payment rate per head.
PLIP payments will be calculated by multiplying the number of head of eligible livestock or poultry by the payment rate per head, and then subtracting the amount of any payments the eligible livestock or poultry owner has received for disposal of the livestock or poultry under the Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program or a state program.
The payments will also be reduced by any Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 1 and 2) payments paid on the same inventory of swine that were depopulated.
USDA has set aside "up to $50 million in pandemic assistance funds to provide additional assistance for small hog producers that use the spot market or negotiated prices. Details on the additional targeted assistance are expected to be available this summer." Packers, live poultry dealers and contract growers are not eligible for PLIP.