Farmers and livestock producers in Chattooga and surrounding counties who were affected by drought conditions in 2023, have until the end of this month to file for financial disaster assistance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting applications in eligible counties, including Chattooga and neighboring counties,  for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) to provide financial assistance to eligible livestock producers for 2023 grazing losses due to a qualifying drought.

The deadline to apply is January 30, 2024.

Twenty Georgia counties have met the drought severity levels that trigger LFP eligibility for the 2023 program year. The counties that are now eligible are Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Dawson, Decatur, Early, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Lumpkin, Miller, Murray, Pickens, Seminole, Union, Walker, and Whitfield. For LFP, qualifying drought triggers are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Visit the FSA LFP webpage for a list of eligible counties and grazing crops.