Farmers in Seven Michigan Counties Get Relief

By Andi Anderson

Livestock producers in Michigan have faced increasing challenges due to ongoing drought conditions during the 2025 grazing season. As a result, seven Michigan counties now qualify for financial support through the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, also known as LFP.

This federal program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, provides payments to eligible livestock producers who experience forage losses caused by drought.

LFP is designed for producers who own, cash lease, share lease, or serve as contract growers of grazing livestock. Eligible animals include species that receive most of their nutrition from grazing, such as beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, equine, alpacas, bison, deer, and similar grazing animals.

Producers must have access to grazing land during the normal grazing period, and the land must be located within a county that has reached qualifying drought levels. Cash-rented land also qualifies if it was in use at the time of the drought.

Qualifying drought conditions are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor. Counties become eligible when they reach specific drought ratings. A county that reaches D2, or severe drought, for at least eight consecutive weeks qualifies producers for one monthly payment.

If any part of the county reaches D3, or extreme drought, producers may receive up to three monthly payments depending on the duration. In the most intense situations, D4 or exceptional drought may result in four or five monthly payments.

The monthly payment rate is calculated as 60% of standard feed costs. For example, the 2025 rate for an adult beef cow is based on 60% of $41.40, equaling $24.84 per head. The maximum payment available per producer is $125,000 each year.

This year marks a significant change for Michigan. While only one county qualified in both 2023 and 2024, seven counties now meet eligibility requirements. These counties include Bay, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Midland, Saginaw, and Tuscola.

Producers in these areas may receive payments for native pasture, full-season improved pasture, or forage sorghum ground affected by drought.

To receive assistance, eligible producers must submit form CCC-853 to their local USDA Farm Service Agency office by March 1, 2026. More information and local office contacts are available through the USDA Service Center directory.

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