Livestock Operator Fire and Flood Assistance Program 2026-3

The Livestock Operator Fire and Flood Assistance Program (LOFFAP) is administered by the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Consultation and Training division. It is designed to provide critical financial support to livestock-operation landowners and lessees whose infrastructure has sustained damage due to wildfires or subsequent flooding. Funded through the Livestock Operator Fire and Flood Assistance Fund, established under Arizona Revised Statute § 3-109.03, this grant program plays a pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability and recovery of livestock operations impacted by natural disasters within the state of Arizona. The LOFFAP is specifically tailored for livestock operators who own over forty animals and whose infrastructure was affected by a wildfire or resulting flood damage. A unique feature of this program is its focus on applicants who have limited or no access to other forms of state or federal assistance for infrastructure repairs. This includes those who are not eligible for or only partially funded by federal programs like FEMA, USDA Forest Service programs, or other charitable or insurance-based support mechanisms. The program offers up to $250,000 per applicant for qualifying repair work and limits awards to no more than 50% of the total project cost after accounting for all other funding sources. Additionally, no more than half of the total available funds can be granted for projects within a single county in a fiscal year, ensuring geographic equity in funding distribution. Funding for this cycle of the LOFFAP totals $9,500,000, out of a $10,000,000 legislative appropriation. Multiple grants may be awarded, and funding amounts are designed to supplement other assistance sources. The program is structured to allow for flexibility in funding while maintaining fiscal discipline and compliance through information-sharing requirements between grantees and public funding sources. Grantees must consent to this data-sharing condition as part of the grant agreement process. To apply, interested individuals must submit their applications online through the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s official platform. The application period opens on February 24, 2026, and closes on March 27, 2026. Each applicant is allowed to submit only one application per grant cycle. The grant application manual includes detailed instructions for each section of the application, from eligibility confirmation to award process and necessary documentation. This manual is segmented into five parts, covering everything from general information to appendices with required forms. Applicants will be evaluated based on the necessity and extent of the infrastructure repair, the scope of damage, and the availability of other funding sources. Priority will likely be given to operations facing severe damage and with limited external recovery options. All funding decisions and grant agreements will be managed under the oversight of the Agricultural Consultation and Training division. For further inquiries or assistance, applicants may contact Marty Suter at the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Mr. Suter can be reached via email at [email protected] or by cell at (602) 396-8365. The department's physical address is 1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, AZ 85007, with a mailing address at 1802 W. Jackson Street #78, Phoenix, AZ 85007. The program does not require matching funds and offers a streamlined application path to facilitate quick and effective support for Arizona's livestock operators in times of crisis.