WOLF Act of 2023

To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to provide emergency relief to producers of livestock with herds adversely affected by Mexican gray wolves, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the WOlf and Livestock Fairness Act of 2023 WOLF Act of 2023 2. Livestock indemnity payment rates Section 1501(b)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9081(b)(2) (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (2) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking Indemnity payments (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), indemnity payments ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (B) Attacks by Mexican gray wolves In the case of attacks on livestock by Mexican gray wolves, indemnity payments to an eligible producer on a farm under paragraph (1) shall be made at a rate of 100 percent of the market value of the affected livestock, as determined by the Secretary, on the applicable date described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A). . 3. Emergency relief to mitigate effect of Mexican gray wolves Section 1501(d) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9081(d) (5) Emergency relief to mitigate effect of Mexican gray wolves (A) In general Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use funds made available under paragraph (1) to provide emergency relief to producers of livestock with herds adversely affected by Mexican gray wolves, as determined by the Secretary. (B) Formula Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall develop a formula to determine the amount of emergency relief to provide to a producer of livestock under subparagraph (A), which shall take into consideration the following factors: (i) The herd size of the producer. (ii) The average annual number of confirmed depredations by Mexican gray wolves per producer in the State in which the producer is located. (iii) The average annual increase in management costs for producers due to Mexican gray wolves during the preceding 5 years in the State in which the producer is located. (iv) The average annual decrease in birth rates of herds of producers due to Mexican gray wolves during the preceding 5 years in the State in which the producer is located. (v) The depredation prevention practices carried out by the producer, if any, as reported through the wolf compensation and prevention program established by section 6202 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 ( 7 U.S.C. 8351 Public Law 111–11 (C) Consultation In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall consult with, and request information from, as necessary, the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (D) Annual report Not later than 1 year after the date on which emergency relief is first provided under this paragraph, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on activities carried out under this paragraph, which shall include an identification of the following: (i) The amount of emergency relief distributed to producers under this paragraph. (ii) The number of producers receiving emergency relief under this paragraph. .

Summary: WOlf and Livestock Fairness Act of 2023 or the WOLF Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide emergency relief to producers of livestock with herds adversely affected by Mexican gray wolves. Additionally, the bill modifies USDA's Livestock Indemnity Program. In the case of attacks on livestock by Mexican gray wolves, the bill increases the payment rate from 75% to 100% of the market value of the affected livestock.