The Democratic Approach to Disaster Assistance for Livestock Producers
When drought, fire or blizzards hit, ranchers can lose feed, fences and animals. Democratic supporters want dependable disaster aid, and critics debate how much and how fast.
Why livestock producers need disaster help
Crop farmers can often buy insurance for a bad season, but livestock losses are harder to cover. A blizzard, a wildfire or a long drought can take cattle, burn pasture and force costly feed purchases or herd sales.
Supporters of the Democratic approach argue that disaster aid should be permanent, predictable and quick, instead of being passed late by Congress after each event. Ranchers near Pueblo and across the Eastern Plains know how long a dry spell can last.
Disasters also have lasting costs that are less visible, such as damaged pasture that takes years to recover, culling decisions that shrink a herd's genetics, and the stress on families. Supporters say assistance should be timely enough to prevent herd sales that cannot be undone.
What do supporters want?
Supporters generally ask for standing disaster programs that do not need new legislation each time, simple applications, coverage for feed losses, grazing losses and death losses, and quick payments. They also want better support for small ranches that lack the paperwork large ones keep.
Many of the relevant programs are run by the Farm Service Agency, with risk tools from the Risk Management Agency. Details, deadlines and payment rules change, so check current terms.
The ranch and beef cattle guide covers herd planning. A related point is that applications should be possible for operators who are not computer savvy or who live far from an FSA office. Supporters want local staff, phone help and simple forms, while critics say reducing fraud and error also matters.
- Permanent, predictable disaster programs
- Simple applications
- Coverage for feed, grazing and death losses
- Support for small ranches
What do critics say?
Critics, including many Republican lawmakers and budget hawks, respond that ongoing disaster programs can encourage risk-taking and cost too much, and that producers should rely more on insurance and sound planning. They worry about open-ended spending.
Some ranchers and voices on the left say that payments come too late and favor large operations. The disputed facts include how much is paid, to whom and how fast. Independent reviews from GAO and cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office are good checks.
Both sides agree that waiting months for help hurts. Many ranchers also keep a written drought plan with triggers, such as selling a set share of the herd if rainfall is below a certain level by a certain date. A plan made before the crisis is easier to follow than one made in the middle of it.
How a rancher can prepare
Keep records: herd counts, photos, feed purchases, pasture conditions and dates of weather events. These help with insurance claims and program applications. Know your local FSA office and register with them before a disaster.
Check what your insurance covers and ask your agent about gaps. Make a drought plan with trigger points for selling or buying feed. Drought.gov and the U.S. Drought Monitor track conditions, and the National Weather Service issues warnings.
The farm safety guide has tips for staying safe in severe weather. A fair reading of the debate is that nobody wants slow or unfair aid. The argument is over how much the public should pay, and how far to go in encouraging producers to carry their own risk.
Colorado resources
State and local help includes the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the Colorado Cattlemen's Association and CSU Extension. Many county emergency managers also coordinate hay and fence help after events.
If a disaster leaves you stressed or overwhelmed, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Talking to someone is a sign of strength, and ranch families look out for one another.
Local networks matter as well, from neighbors sharing hay to county road crews opening drifted roads. Know who to call and keep a list of contacts.
Keep reading
For ranch stories, visit farm.FM ranching and farm.FM news. A related story is a farm.FM piece on drought and cattle.
Confirm all program details with the agency before relying on them.
If you lose animals, handle disposal and reporting according to current state and county rules, and document everything with photos and dates before it is cleaned up.
Sources and further reading
- USDA Farm Service Agency: FSA farm programs and loans
- USDA Risk Management Agency: crop insurance
- GAO: government watchdog reports
- Congressional Budget Office: cost estimates for federal programs
- Drought.gov: national drought information
- U.S. Drought Monitor: weekly drought maps
Ask locally: Your county FSA office can explain which livestock disaster programs are currently open to you.