Tips for documenting wildfire-related agricultural losses
AgriLife Extension offers preparation information for livestock, infrastructure wildfire insurance claims
Landowners with livestock or agricultural infrastructure losses from recent wildfires across Texas are advised to properly document those losses in preparation for insurance claims or qualifying federal assistance.
“It’s advised for landowners to take photos of any deceased livestock before burial or disposal,” said Monty Dozier, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery, DAR, program director.
DAR agents have most recently operated an Animal Supply Point in Gillespie County following the Crabapple wildfire distributing hay, feed, fencing supplies and other needs.
In addition to livestock, damaged equipment, machinery, agricultural structures, fences and water wells will need to be documented with digital images to provide further proof of loss, Dozier said.
Reporting, documenting
The following are helpful tips and assistance information:
- Missing cattle: Report stranded, stray or missing cattle to the local county sheriff’s department or contact your local AgriLife Extension county agent. Authorities will assist in gathering the livestock and use brand identification to locate the owner.
- Reporting losses: The Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool, iSTAT, is offered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management. The tool assists emergency management officials in assessing damages through iSTAT damage surveys. These help state officials identify resource needs.
Livestock owners may be eligible for federal assistance, so they should record all details about livestock death losses due to wildfire. Documentation of the number and kind of livestock that died, when possible, should be supplemented by the following:
- Photographs or video records to document the loss, dated if possible.
- Purchase records, veterinarian records, production records and bank or other loan documents.
- Written contracts, records assembled for tax purposes, private insurance documents and other similar reliable documents.
- Rendering truck receipts or certificates.
Federal and state assistance
The Livestock Indemnity Program, LIP, aids with livestock losses due to disasters, including wildfires. LIP provides indemnity payments for livestock killed in floods that had to be euthanized directly due to the flooding or were injured and sold within 30 days for a reduced rate.
Producers must provide records of their losses, including inventories, financial records, photographs, rendering receipts and veterinary certifications. The deadline to provide notice of loss and a payment application is 60 days after the calendar year in which the loss occurred.
Carcass disposal guidelines are available from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The Texas Department of Agriculture State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund, STAR Fund, also provides resources for farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses impacted by natural disasters.
More preparedness and recovery information may be found on the Disaster Assessment and Recovery website, including the new publication Wildfire: Preparing the Ranch. Safety tips and wildfire resources are also available on the Texas Ready and the Texas A&M Forest Service websites.
