Confirmed H5N1 Positive Test Results Required for Recovery Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as H5N1infection, in their dairy herds.
Through its rulemaking process, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP to assist with a portion of financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds having a confirmed positive H5N1 test. Positive test results must be confirmed through the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).
ELAP provides emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish to assist with losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as wildfires, that are not covered by other FSA disaster assistance programs.
H5N1 infections have been detected in 12 states: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Dairy producers in all states are reminded to stay vigilant and follow established APHIS biosecurity, detection, and testing guidelines.
In addition to testing, enhanced biosecurity is critical to containing this virus. As part of practicing good biosecurity, USDA works closely with state animal health officials, producers, and industry organizations to provide guidance and resources for cleaning and disinfection not only on affected farms but for all livestock producers. APHIS has published a number of biosecurity documents on its landing page.
ELAP Eligibility
Eligible adult dairy cattle must be:
- part of a herd that has a confirmed positive H5N1 test from NVSL;
- initially removed from commercial milk production at some point during the 14 days before through 120 days after the sample collection date for the positive H5N1 test;
- milk-producing, currently lactating; and
- maintained for commercial milk production in which the producer has a financial risk on the beginning date of the eligible loss condition.
Applying for ELAP Assistance
To apply, producers need to submit the following to FSA:
- Proof of herd infection through a confirmed positive H5N1 test (based on USDA’s APHIS H5N1 case definition) on individual animal or bulk tank samples, confirmed by NVSL
- A notice of loss indicating the date when the loss is apparent, which is the sample collection date for the positive H5N1 test
- An application for payment certifying the number of eligible adult dairy cows, the month the cows were removed from production, and the producer’s share in the milk production
- The final date to file notice of loss and apply for payment for a calendar year is January 30 of the following year.
Calculating ELAP Payments
The per-cow milk loss payment will be determined based on an expected 21-day period of no milk production when a cow is removed from the milking herd, followed by 7 days when the cow has returned to milking but produces 50 percent of the normal amount of milk.
ELAP payments are determined using a per-head payment rate calculated based on the monthly all-milk price and national milk production published by the National Agricultural Statistics Service and a standard number of days with reduced or no production (per head payment rate x number of eligible adult dairy cows x producer’s share in milk production x 90 percent).
To apply, producers should contact the FSA at their local USDA Service Center.
More Information
Details on updated ELAP policy to provide financial assistance for milk loss due H5N1 were published in the Federal Register (PDF, 279 KB) on Monday, July 1.
USDA continues to work with the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state veterinary and public health officials to investigate H5N1 among cattle. APHIS continues to provide confirmatory testing for samples from livestock as well as guidance for producers, veterinarians, and state animal health officials. Learn more at APHIS’ Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Livestock webpage.
