“Livestock and poultry producers have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of the Farm Service Agency. “We want to make sure that all eligible producers have the opportunity to apply for this essential aid. The deadline of October 12 also aligns with the deadline for the Coronavirus 2 Food Assistance Program. ”

PLIP makes payments to producers for losses of livestock or depopulated poultry from March 1, 2020 to December 26, 2020, due to insufficient access to processing due to the pandemic. Payments are based on 80% of the fair market value of the livestock and poultry and the cost of slaughtering and disposing of the animal. Eligible livestock and poultry include pigs, chickens and turkeys.

Eligible livestock and poultry producers can apply for the PLIP until the October 12 deadline by completing Form FSA-620, Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program, and submitting it to any FSA county office. Additional documents may be required.

Visit farmers.gov/plip for more information on how to apply.

Governor Pete Ricketts issued a proclamation recognizing Sept. 20-24 as Clean Energy Week in the state in conjunction with the fifth annual National Clean Energy Week.

Last year, Ricketts, along with more than half of the nation’s governors, signed proclamations formally recognizing clean energy weeks in their respective states. In his 2021 proclamation, Ricketts cites Nebraska as third in the country for grid reliability. In addition, it notes that Cornhusker state obtained 51% of its net electricity generation in the state from coal, 24% from wind and 17% from nuclear power in 2020.