Important Dates Coming Up for ELAP
What It Is
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), offers financial aid to producers who suffer losses from specific adverse conditions not covered by other USDA disaster assistance programs. This includes losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events, and other qualifying conditions affecting livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish. ELAP provides critical support to help producers recover and sustain their operations.
Download the Updated 2025 ELAP Fact Sheet
Download the ELAP - NAP Comparison
Who Is Eligible
Eligible applicants include producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish who have suffered losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other qualifying conditions. Producers must provide verifiable documentation of the losses and meet all program requirements.
Important Dates
Final Date to file Notice of Loss and Final Date to Submit an Application for Payment: March 1 after the program year in which the loss occurred.
For 2024 losses: Apply by March 3, 2025 (because March 1 is on a Saturday).
How To Apply
To apply for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, producers must complete and submit a notice of loss and an application for payment to their local FSA office. The process includes providing documentation of the losses and the conditions causing the losses. Detailed enrollment instructions and deadlines are available through the local FSA office. Click here to Find Your FSA Location.
How It Works
Program Features
- Covered Losses
- Livestock losses due to eligible disease, certain adverse weather, and feed and water shortages.
- Honey bee colony, hive, and feed losses due to colony collapse disorder, eligible adverse weather, and other conditions.
- Farm-raised fish death losses due to eligible disease, adverse weather, and other qualifying conditions.
- Payment Rates: Payments are based on a percentage of the fair market value of the livestock, honey bees, or fish lost, as well as the cost of feed and water shortages. Specific rates are detailed in program guidelines.
- Documentation Requirements: Producers must provide verifiable documentation of losses and the conditions causing the losses. This may include veterinary records, feed and water receipts, purchase records, and other supporting documents.
Additional ELAP Benefits
- Comprehensive Coverage: ELAP covers a wide range of losses and conditions not addressed by other disaster assistance programs, providing crucial support for diverse agricultural operations.
- Economic Stability: By compensating for significant losses, ELAP helps ensure the economic stability of livestock, honey bee, and farm-raised fish producers.
- Risk Management: ELAP is part of the USDA’s suite of disaster assistance programs designed to help producers manage risk and sustain their operations through adverse conditions.