FARGO — North Dakota State University Extension specialists encourage ranchers who lost animals during the recent blizzard to inquire about the Livestock Indemnity Program provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency.

“The Livestock Indemnity Program provides benefits to agricultural producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather, disease or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government,” said Karl Hoppe, NDSU Extension livestock systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center. “Eligible weather events include earthquake, hail, lightning, tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, wildfire, extreme heat, extreme cold, straight-line winds and eligible winter storms.”

The Livestock Indemnity Program applies to the loss of cattle, poultry, swine, sheep, horses, goats, bison and other eligible livestock.

A fact sheet for the livestock indemnity program is available online at fsa.usda.gov. Search “FSA Livestock Indemnity Program.”

“Ranchers must file a notice of loss with FSA within 30 days of when the loss is apparent,” Hoppe said. “They also must file an application for payment no later than 60 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the eligible loss occurred.”

The Livestock Indemnity Program requires a deduction for normal mortality and these need to be documented, he added. These normal mortalities do not have to be weather related.

Hoppe advises ranchers to contact their local FSA office for Livestock Indemnity Program details and requirements as soon as possible so the proper records are collected. These may include pictures with time and date of dead livestock.

In North Dakota, animals that die for any reason must be disposed of in an approved method within 36 hours of death. Rendering, incineration, burial, composting and landfilling are all approved methods of carcass disposal. Burning is also an approved method in certain situations but should be used as a method of last resort.

“If you are going to bury, be sure carcasses are placed four feet above the water table with four feet of cover,” said Mary Keena, NDSU Extension livestock environmental management specialist at Carrington. “If possible, bury livestock in clay soils.”

Dispose of carcasses at an approved municipal solid waste landfill. Search “DEQ ND municipal solid waste landfills” to find an approved landfill. Contact the landfill to determine disposal protocols.