Emergency Assistance: Operation of USDA's Livestock Feed Programs

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) emergency livestock feed assistance programs to determine: (1) whether the Emergency Feed Assistance Program (EFAP) was effective in providing a timely response to emergency conditions in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota during 1985 and 1986; (2) the comparative benefits of the Emergency Feed Assistance Program and the Emergency Feed Program (EFP); and (3) the rationale USDA used to select specific emergency programs to respond to particular disaster conditions. GAO also reviewed legislation that proposed to consolidate and improve the various emergency livestock feed programs.