It’s been especially tough on farmers and ranchers from Southeastern Oklahoma — who’ve had to contend with a severe drought and brush fires over the past few years, coupled with the severe ice storm last winter.

Weather and other factors beyond their control have resulted in losses for some through no fault of their own.

Even though the drought has now broken, many livestock producers suffered during the long, dry spell. Many lost acres of pastureland in fires and then saw their hay crops severely reduced during the years of drought.

Others lost livestock through the extreme weather conditions resulting from the ice storm.

To help them, the Farm Services Agency’s McAlester office at 200 S. Third St. is offering benefits through a couple of different programs. Producers in Pittsburg, Latimer and McIntosh Counties are eligible to apply.

One of the programs is for assistance due to forage or other feed losses caused by disasters from 2005 through Feb. 28, 2007. That would most likely include the loss of hay or pastureland as a result of the drought or from wildfires which raged through parts of the area.

“It’s to compensate producers for grazing losses they’ve had,” said Carl Patterson, executive director of the FSA office in Pittsburg County.

To be eligible, operators must have owned or leased specific livestock and suffered a forage loss during the time period.

Eligible livestock are beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep and goats. Even deer, buffalo and elk might be eligible if they were physically located in the county at the beginning date of the disaster period. Animals kept for recreational purposes don’t count.

Money obtained through the program is in the form of grants — meaning it doesn’t have to be repaid.

“Payment is $10.60 for an adult cow or bull,” Patterson said.

Calves that weigh at least 500 pounds count for an $8 payment, he said. Applicants will need to have the following information ready:

• Legal descriptions and type of pasture owned or leased in 2005 and 2006.

• Copies of land rental agreements, lease statements signed by landowners or copies of canceled checks for 2005 and 2006.

• Copies of fertilizer tickets and livestock sales for 2005 and 2006.

• The number of adult beef cattle, both cows and bulls, owned on Jan. 1, 2005, or July 1, 2005, and Jan. 1, 2006. Numbers are also needed for the number of calves weighing 500 pounds or more on those dates.

The FSA needs the livestock counts for both years to determine the payment most beneficial.

Meanwhile, the Livestock Indemnity Program is under way to help area ranchers and farmers who lost livestock because of the bitter weather and ice storm last winter.

It’s designed to cover livestock losses “that resulted from natural disasters, including losses due to blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into January 2007.”

To qualify for the Livestock Indemnity Program, several conditions must be met:

• The livestock must have died as the result of an eligible disaster event, which for this program includes winter weather such as the ice storm, but not the drought.

• Livestock that died as a result of low water in a pond or being stuck in the mud are not included in the program.

• The animals must have been maintained for a commercial farming operation on the day they died.

• Animals maintained for recreational purposes, such as pets, for roping or animals for hunting, are not eligible.

• Producers must have legally owned the livestock on the day the animal, or animals, died.

Contract growers may also be eligible.

Those who would like to apply for either of the programs can do so at the FSA office, open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

“We’re asking people to make appointments,” Peterson said. Appointments can be made by phoning 423-4073, ext. 2.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.