Baldwin Calls on USDA to Provide Emergency Aid for Gamebird Farmers Hit By Tornadoes, Severe Weather

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led a group of Democratic and Republican lawmakers in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide immediate assistance to gamebird farmers who have been denied emergency aid after suffering serious losses due to severe weather events. The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths caused by adverse weather, however, gamebird farmers in Wisconsin and across the country have recently been denied assistance by USDA.

“When our farmers experience devastating weather events out of their control, it’s our job to give them the tools and resources they need to get back on their feet,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am calling on the USDA to help our pheasant and gamebird farmers bounce back and protect this critical industry and the livelihoods it supports across Wisconsin.”

Farmers across the country have recently reported being denied emergency assistance or encouraged not to apply for LIP coverage, including in Wisconsin. In June, MacFarlane Pheasant Farm in southeast Wisconsin, the largest pheasant producer in the country, lost over 50,000 birds due to a tornado. In addition to the loss of poultry, the tornado caused substantial damage to the farm, including the destruction of pens, fencing, and other farm infrastructure necessary to support the flock.

The financial impact on the farm’s operations has been devastating, resulting in over $2 million in damages. As a result of the destruction, the farmer-owner sought LIP assistance from USDA, but was ultimately denied coverage because it is a gamebird operation. In her letter today, Senator Baldwin called on the USDA to reconsider its decision to deny assistance to gamebird farmers under LIP and ensure that these farmers have the resources they need to recover from severe weather disasters.

Senator Baldwin was joined by Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and Congressman Bryan Steil (R-WI-01).

“American gamebird farms are raising poultry for the commercial market for both food and recreation at the same time,” said Mike Martz, President of the North American Gamebird Association. “There is no justification to treating them any different than other commercially sold livestock. These are multi-generational farms that sustain families and employ people. They deserve the same protections as other livestock farms.”

A full version of this letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

I am writing to you today to raise concerns regarding the denial of Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) coverage to gamebird farmers who have suffered serious losses as a result of severe weather events.

As written, the Livestock Indemnity Program is intended to provide relief to farmers who experienced adverse events resulting in beyond normal mortality levels. Unfortunately, we are hearing from constituents who have been denied LIP assistance, or told by USDA not to apply for it, because the agency would not be in the position to provide it. In these cases, the constituents were gamebird farmers who experienced beyond normal mortality levels as a result of tornadoes and hurricanes that hit the nation this year.

Hurricane Helene devastated agricultural operations across our southeastern coast this September. To assess the impact of the storm, the North American Gamebird Association reached out to farmers to ensure they had awareness of, and access to, available resources, including assistance from USDA. During their outreach, they found that farmers in Georgia were discouraged from applying by agency officials because they produced gamebirds. Unfortunately, we know they were not alone in their denial of assistance.

This June, MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc., the largest pheasant producer in the country, lost over 50,000 birds due to an EF2 tornado. In addition to the loss of poultry, the tornado caused substantial damage to MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc., including the destruction of pens, fencing, and other farm infrastructure necessary to support the flock. The financial impact on the farm’s operations has been devastating, resulting in over $2 million in damages. As a result of the destruction, the farmer-owner sought LIP assistance from USDA, but was ultimately denied coverage because it is a gamebird operation.

Placing a prohibition on LIP assistance to gamebird farmers is inconsistent with the underlying statutory language and intent of the program, especially at a time when severe weather events are impacting farmers across the country and creating a significant hardship for their businesses and families. I urge the agency to reconsider its decision to deny assistance to gamebird farmers under LIP and thereby ensure these farmers across the nation have the resources they need to recover from severe weather disasters.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and reconsideration of coverage for gamebird farmers under LIP.

Sincerely,

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