Farmers who lose livestock to disease resulting from a weather disaster have a new path to eligibility for a key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance program.

USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey announced a national clarification to the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) April 24. In the event of disease, this change authorizes local Farm Service Agency committees to accept veterinarian certifications that livestock deaths were directly related to adverse weather and unpreventable through good animal husbandry and management. The committees may then use this certification to allow LIP eligibility for producers on a case-by-case basis.

Eligible weather events include earthquakes, hail, tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, blizzards and flooding.