Increased placements in the feedlot through the month of September reached a total of 2.21 million head, 6% up from 2022. Marketings of fed cattle in September fell to 1.66 million head, 11% less than September 2022.
The swell of placements in September, along with less marketing, left the U.S. feedlot inventory with a total of 11.6 million head as of Oct. 1, 2023, according to the USDA’s October Cattle on Feed report. This is 1% over last year’s feedlot placements and the second-highest Oct. 1 inventory since the series’ inception in 1996. Steers and steer calves made up 60% of feedlot placements with a total of 6.95 million head, a small increase from 2022. Heifers and heifer calves totaled 4.64 million head, up 1% from last year and comprising 40% of the total inventory.
The increased placement of heifers indicates that many of the cattle placed were likely drought-driven choices, along with producers likely taking advantage of high cattle prices this fall. Increased feedlot placements, along with a year-to-date beef cow culling rate of 11.5% shows that the U.S. herd is still constricting and will likely continue to do so for the next six to 12 months.
LIP, ELAP livestock loss claim deadlines changed
Livestock loss claim filing deadlines for two USDA programs have been changed, extending timelines for some livestock owners suffering animal and financial losses to apply for financial assistance. In notices sent to USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) county and state offices on Nov. 1, the changes include:
The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides benefits to eligible livestock owners or contract growers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality rates caused by adverse weather, eligible disease or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government. LIP payments are equal to 75% of the average fair market value of the livestock.
Previously, eligible producers were required to report losses because of an eligible adverse weather condition or loss event within 30 calendar days from when the loss first became apparent.
With the change, the new deadline for filing a notice of loss under LIP will be 60 calendar days after the calendar year in which the eligible loss condition occurred. The change is effective for 2023 and subsequent program years. For example, for the 2023 program year, the LIP application deadline is now Feb. 29, 2024.
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish that have losses because of disease, adverse weather or other conditions, including losses because of blizzards and wildfires. ELAP covers losses that are not covered under other disaster assistance programs such as the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and LIP.
Previously, eligible producers have been required to report losses within 30 calendar days for livestock (30 days for fish and 15 days for honeybees) from when the loss first became apparent.
With the change, the new deadline for filing a notice of loss under ELAP is 30 calendar days following the program year of which the loss occurred. The change is effective for 2023 and subsequent program years. For example, claims for losses in 2023 must be filed by Jan. 30, 2024.
FSA staff are also being asked to reevaluate for possible approval, reports for producers who were denied LIP or ELAP claims in 2023 because they were filed late under the previous deadlines.
Contact your county or regional FSA office for further information.
Editor Dave Natzke contributed to this report.
