By Scout Nelson
Livestock producers continue to face challenges from drought, weather events, disease, natural disasters, and changing conditions on grazing land. New provisions in the Senate’s Farm Bill 2.0 are designed to address several of these issues and provide changes to livestock disaster programs.
Senator John Hoeven discussed the livestock provisions at the annual convention of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association on September 26, 2026. He outlined measures included in Farm Bill 2.0 that focus on livestock producers, grazing land, drought assistance, and prairie dog management.
One provision focuses on prairie dog colonies on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. The measure would change prairie dog management plans and limit prairie dog habitat to no more than 1.5% of any single grazing allotment. It would also establish a one-mile buffer along nearby state and private lands.
Prairie dog colonies can affect grazing areas used by cattle and other livestock. The proposed changes are intended to set limits on the amount of grazing land that can be occupied by prairie dogs while also creating additional protection for nearby state and private property.
Another part of the Farm Bill addresses the Livestock Indemnity Program, commonly called LIP. The program provides assistance for eligible livestock deaths caused by certain natural disasters and other qualifying events.
The proposed changes would establish payment categories in law for calves weighing less than 400 pounds and calves weighing 400 pounds or more. The goal is to provide a clearer structure for payments when eligible livestock losses occur.
The Farm Bill also includes changes to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm Raised Fish Program, known as ELAP. Under qualifying drought conditions, the program would cover certain transportation costs connected with livestock care.
This includes the cost of hauling feed or water to livestock. It would also cover transportation costs when livestock must be moved to available forage or grazing acres. These changes could provide additional assistance to producers who must move resources or animals during drought conditions.
Drought can reduce the amount of forage available for livestock. When pasture conditions become poor, ranchers may need to bring feed or water to animals or move livestock to areas with better grazing conditions. Transportation can add significant costs during these periods. The proposed ELAP changes address those expenses under qualifying conditions.
The livestock provisions build on changes included in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. Those changes expanded assistance available through several livestock programs.
Under the changes, the Livestock Indemnity Program includes payment coverage of 100% of market value for eligible livestock losses caused by federally protected predators. It also provides 75% coverage for eligible losses caused by weather and disease.
The Livestock Forage Program, or LFP, also includes changes for ranchers affected by drought. Producers with grazing land in counties rated D2, or severe drought, for at least four consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period can receive one monthly payment.
If D2 drought conditions continue during any seven of eight consecutive weeks within the normal grazing period, producers can receive two payments. These provisions are intended to provide additional assistance when drought conditions reduce the availability of forage for livestock.
Farm Bill 2.0 is a broad agricultural policy package that includes provisions covering farm programs, conservation, rural communities, livestock, markets, and other agricultural priorities. The Senate Agriculture Committee released an updated Farm Bill 2.0 text in 2026 as lawmakers continued work on a new farm bill.
For livestock producers, the measures discussed by Hoeven focus on several practical concerns. These include livestock losses, drought-related forage shortages, transportation costs, and the management of grazing land affected by prairie dogs.
Categories: North Dakota, Government & Policy, Livestock