COLLEGE STATION  Texas Cooperative Extension is making application packets available for the recently announced Livestock Assistance Grant Program administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Deadline for applications is Nov. 13, 2006.

About $16.1 million in block grant funds have been allocated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to eligible livestock producers in 216 drought-stressed Texas counties.

To be eligible for the program, producers must have suffered livestock or forage production losses from drought March 7-Aug. 31.

“Producers wanting to apply to receive drought assistance can pick up an application at their county Extension office,” said Kyle Smith, Extension associate director for county programs.

Producers will be responsible for mailing their own application to the Texas Department of Agriculture, and no electronic applications will be accepted. However, application packets can be printed from the Texas Department of Agriculture Web site at http://www.agr.state.tx.us/ .

Compensation to producers will not be determined until all applications are received and processed by the Texas Department of Agriculture, officials said. Notification to producers regarding payment or denial will occur prior to Dec. 31.

Applications may also be picked up at Farm Service Agency offices and Texas Department of Agriculture area offices.

For information on program specifics, call 800-835-5832.

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