Klobuchar, Smith Call for Continued Efforts to Support Farmers and Ranchers after Devastating February Blizzards
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/15/19] – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to commit to continued public outreach to farmers and ranchers following February’s devastating blizzards. In a letter to Joe Martin, the State Executive Director for the Minnesota FSA, the senators asked that he continue to conduct public outreach throughout the impacted counties to ensure that impacted farmers and ranchers fully understand their options, including for payments under several Farm Bill disaster programs and for emergency disaster loans.
“The record levels of snowfall have caused structural damage to many livestock barns, equipment sheds, and other agricultural buildings in the southeastern part of the state,” the senators wrote. “The recent decline in the agricultural economy has already been challenging for Minnesota farmers, and now many of them are facing difficult decisions as a result of these weather disasters. Your continued communication with Minnesota farmers and ranchers will be critical as they continue to evaluate their losses and recover from this disaster.”
The full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear Mr. Martin:
We ask that you to continue outreach to local producers and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture so that those impacted by the record levels of snowfall this winter understand the Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs available to them and the process they need to follow to apply for these resources.
The record levels of snowfall have caused structural damage to many livestock barns, equipment sheds, and other agricultural buildings in the southeastern part of the state. In some cases, producers have experienced livestock casualties as a result of structures collapsing under the weight of heavy snow and high winds. Additionally, numerous farmers dumped thousands of pounds milk because of road closures resulting in trucks being unable to pick up milk.
Late last year Congress passed a Farm Bill that reauthorized disaster assistance programs with mandatory funding for farmers and ranchers experiencing losses due to natural disasters. However, given the lapse in federal funding earlier this year, it is easy to see how Minnesota producers may have additional questions about the resources available to them. Due to the urgent nature of this disaster, we ask that you to continue to conduct public outreach throughout the impacted counties to ensure that impacted farmers and ranchers fully understand their options, including for payments under the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), as well as for emergency disaster loans.
The recent decline in the agricultural economy has already been challenging for Minnesota farmers, and now many of them are facing difficult decisions as a result of these weather disasters. Your continued communication with Minnesota farmers and ranchers will be critical as they continue to evaluate their losses and recover from this disaster.
Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
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