Mike Pearson examines changes to the USDA livestock indemnity fund made recently.

Many livestock producers experienced challenges from the extreme heat and humidity most of the country experienced this summer.

The USDA made changes to the livestock indemnity fund to help producers who lost livestock due to the heat.

The 2018 Farm Bill made it possible for the USDA livestock indemnity fund to provide producers with pay for losing livestock during an eligible weather loss event.

However, the funding wasn't keeping up with the rapidly climbing cattle market.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen recently asked USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack for an increase in the payout to livestock producers.

An adjustment was made to the program so the amount paid out will go from $1,244 per head for an 800 pound cow to $1,618 per animal.

The increase is retroactive to Jan. 1 for every weather related event including heat, humidity, snowstorms or floods.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, a farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.