August 2, 2012

Today, the House is scheduled to reauthorize livestock disaster programs critical to producers facing drought in South Dakota and Across the nation. H.R. 6233 would reauthorize the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Livestock Forage Disaster Programs (LFP), Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP), and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) for the current year. The 2008 Farm Bill failed to authorize these programs for five years, leaving South Dakota livestock producers uncovered during this drought year. Rep. Noem introduced legislation in April to reauthorize these programs and today spoke on the House floor on the importance of getting them authorized now and getting a new Farm Bill done this year.