WESLACO – A new program is in place to help agriculture producers who have lost livestock due to weather-related disease.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now allowing a veterinarian to confirm the producer’s animal died as a result of adverse weather conditions.

The veterinarian will have to prove that the death was not preventable.

County farm service agents will then review the certification.

An Farm Service Agency committee will determine whether the producer will be eligible for federal benefits.

The USDA reports the acceptable weather events include the following:

• Earthquakes
• Hail
• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Heavy storms
• Flooding

For more information, visit your local FSA service center.