Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is reminding farmers and ranchers about approaching sign-up deadlines for three disaster assistance programs. "I encourage all eligible farmers and ranchers to enroll in these programs now before the sign-up periods close in order to participate and receive this valuable assistance," he said.

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1. September 9 is the deadline to sign up for the Crop Disaster Program (CDP) for 2003 and 2004. December 16 is the deadline to sign up for the CDP for 2005.
   
   The CDP provides assistance to producers who suffered 2003, 2004 or 2005-crop losses as the result of damaging weather or related conditions. The 2005 crop losses are limited to those losses caused by a hurricane season in counties that had a Presidential disaster declaration. Nearly $2 billion has been paid to producers since sign-up began in mid-March 2005.
   
   Producers can receive disaster benefits for crop losses for only one of the 2003, 2004 or 2005 crop years. However, if a producer has been paid a CDP payment for a 2003 or 2004 crop loss and is subsequently approved for a CDP payment for a greater 2005 crop loss, the amount of the 2003 or 2004 payment will be deducted from the 2005 payment and the difference will be paid to the producer.

2. September 9 is also the deadline to sign up for the Livestock Assistance Program (LAP) for 2003 and 2004.
   
   The LAP provides payments to livestock producers for grazing losses that occurred in 2003 or 2004 if the producers' grazing lands are in counties declared primary disaster areas under Presidential or Secretarial declarations. Livestock producers in contiguous counties are not eligible. Payments to producers enrolled in LAP are expected to begin in late summer.

3. Also, deadlines are approaching for the American Indian Livestock Feed Program (AILFP).
   
   USDA says payments to producers enrolled in AILFP are expected to begin in late summer.
   
   The program provides financial assistance to livestock producers who purchased livestock feed for livestock that occupied tribal-governed land during a natural disaster occurring in calendar years 2003 or 2004.
   
   To be eligible for the AIFLP, Native American producers must submit an application through their tribal government. The application must be filed according to the deadline set by the tribal government, which cannot be more than 90 days after the deadline set by USDA's Farm Service Agency.
   
   Producers should consult their tribal government for further details concerning that deadline.
   
   An FSA factsheet about the program is available here:
   http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/facts/html/ailfp05.htm

USDA's Web site, http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/ offers details on new and existing disaster assistance.