Legislation to provide disaster relief has stalled in Congress. Farmers and ranchers across the country are enduring massive losses and congressional action is needed to bring relief. Many farmers are facing near-complete losses of their crops, livestock and farm infrastructure. Estimated agricultural losses in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina total nearly $5.5 billion. Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri currently estimate losses at more than $3 billion.
Farm Bureau members need to ask their members of Congress to set aside political concerns and prioritize our nation's food producers today and support disaster assistance to rural America.
The agriculture provisions in the House bill are similar to those in the Senate disaster bill, but only the House measure currently includes disaster relief for on-farm stored commodities.
The bill provides $3 billion for farm disaster assistance administered through USDA's Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program, which will help farmers hurt by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 with expenses related to the loss of crops, trees, bushes, vines, milk and harvested adulterated wine grapes.
This legislation recognizes the hardships facing the farm economy for several years running. Now is the time for Congress to act!
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