Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to processing plant closures last year can apply for assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) will provide payments for those who had to depopulate and dispose of animals from March 1 to December 26, 2020. 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. The USDA states that pork producers are expected to be the primary recipients of the assistance and ISU Extension and Outreach Swine Specialist Matt Romoser says this is welcome for producers in southeast Iowa, “The producers were very proactive in the fact that they really went to extra lengths to avoid having to depopulate any farms or herds, but I think in some instances they had to make some pretty challenging calls. And I think the PLIP program provides a way to sort of reconcile maybe what those producers had to go through and had to make some pretty tough calls from a production standpoint.”

Swine, chicken, and turkey producers can apply for PLIP assistance through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency through September 17th. Additional assistance is planned for small hog producers that use the spot market or negotiate prices with details to come later this summer.