With the current ongoing drought making much of the state suffer, the Kingfisher Lions Club members were told of a program that helps bring relief to cattle growers in such situations.

Kate Ryan is the county executive director of the Kingfisher County Farm Service Agency.

She spoke to the local civic group last Thursday about the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP).

Although parts of Kingfisher County had two major rainfalls over the summer, those came in large, but brief, spurts.

For the most part, the county has been dry, which is evident by the latest map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Much of Kingfisher county is included in a moderate drought. The far northern and northwestern part are in a severe drought while the southern and southeastern parts are just abnormally dry.

County farmers who participate in FSA may be eligible for the LFP, said Ryan.

“The last couple of years were pretty bad,” Ryan said. “We paid on wheat pasture losses as well as grass pasture losses. This year we’re only paying on summer grass pasture.

“Admittedly the payments aren’t as much as the last two years, but something is better than nothing.”

The determination for current conditions runs through Nov. 14. If conditions worsen, the possibility of more payments could arise.

“But I’m sure we’d all prefer the rain at this point,” Ryan said.

Ryan started with the FSA in Beckham County in July 2020.

She became the CED at Kingfisher County in June 2021.

To find out more about FSA and LFP, contact Ryan at the county office. There’s also additional information regarding requirements and restrictions available online at farmers.gov.