“The programmes in the Livestock Title are too important to US family farmers and ranchers to be left out,“ said NFU President Roger Johnson. “In order to ensure we have a robust, productive livestock industry in our country, we must protect our producers by supporting the programmes described in the letter.“

As outlined in the letter, reauthorizing the Livestock Disaster Assistance Programmes is vital. The Livestock Indemnity Programme (LIP) compensates ranchers at a rate of 75 per cent market value for livestock mortality caused by disasters. The Livestock Forage Programme (LFP) assists ranchers who graze livestock on qualifying drought-or fire-affected pastureland. The Emergency Livestock Assistance Programme (ELAP) compensates producers for disaster losses not covered under other disaster programmes. These programmes have been of critical importance to producers across the nation in recent years.

“We support the listed programmes as a means to ensure the continued success and viability for the$160 billion livestock industry,“ the letter states. “We urge Congress to pass a 2012 Farm Bill that clearly and concisely outlines the critical programs to the livestock industry in a succinct package of provisions in the next farm bill.“

The cosigners represent tens of thousands of livestock producers, including cattle, pork, dairy. They include state animal health officials, state secretaries of agriculture, state veterinarians, the American Horse Council, American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials, NFU, United States Animal Health Association, and US Cattlemen’s Association.