Statewide & Federal
ELAP: Livestock, Honeybee & Fish Losses
Help for losses that other USDA disaster programs don’t cover, from livestock disease to honeybee colony losses. Veterans can get a higher payment rate on some losses.
What It Offers
- The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) from the Farm Service Agency covers losses not handled by other disaster programs.
- For livestock, it covers losses from eligible disease, certain adverse weather, and feed and water shortages, including the cost of hauling feed and water.
- For honeybees, it covers colony, hive, and feed losses from colony collapse disorder, eligible weather, and other conditions. Starting in 2026, FSA uses a normal mortality rate of 15% for colony losses.
- For farm-raised fish, it covers death losses from adverse weather and other conditions. Losses to fish-eating birds were added for 2026.
Benefits for Veterans
- Higher reimbursement on some losses. For example, feed transportation costs are reimbursed at 90% for veterans instead of the standard 60%.
- Make sure your veteran certification (form CCC-860) is on file with FSA so the higher rate applies.
How to Get Started
- Keep records as you go, including vet records, feed and water receipts, hauling miles, purchase records, and hive or head counts.
- Contact your county FSA office as soon as you have a loss.
- The notice of loss and application are due March 1 after the year of the loss. For 2026 losses, that is March 1, 2027.
Key Links
Sources: USDA Farm Service Agency ELAP program page (2026); USDA feed transportation policy for underserved and veteran producers.
