Officials with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will provide aid to producers who suffered livestock mortality losses from the tornadoes that struck northeast Nebraska earlier this week. Craig Derickson, NRCS state conservationist, says that $100,000 in assistance is now available to help producers properly dispose of animal carcasses. Affected producers have until July 18, 2014, to apply.

Nebraska NRCS Offering $100,000 for Proper Disposal of Dead Livestock

This assistance is available through a special Livestock Mortality Initiative through NRCS' Environmental Quality Incentives Program. This Initiative is currently available to producers in Stanton, Wayne, Dixon, Thurston, Cuming and Cedar counties in northeast Nebraska. If additional severe storm events occur prior to the July 18 application deadline, more counties can be included in the sign up eligibility area.

According to Derickson, this initiative provides technical and financial assistance to help producers dispose of livestock carcasses on their farm in a safe manner.

"Livestock producers with animal mortalities need to come to the NRCS office and sign up for the special initiative in order to be eligible to participate in the program," he says. "It is important for producers to understand the technical requirements for the animal composting practice. We want to make sure that producers have the assistance and information needed to dispose of animal carcasses in a manner that doesn't cause health and environmental concerns."

Getting signed up for the program at NRCS allows the producer to proceed with properly disposing of livestock. Once funds are available, a contract will be developed with the livestock owner and payment will be approved once the project has been completed according to NRCS specifications.

Affected producers should visit their local NRCS office located in the USDA Service Center. There, NRCS will work one-on-one with producers to develop a recovery plan that best meets the needs of their operation.