WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, led the entire Minnesota Congressional delegation in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide federal assistance for Minnesota farmers and communities impacted by storms and natural disasters this spring harvest.
The lawmakers offered their support for Governor Tim Walz’s request for a Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator’s Physical Loss Notice (APLN) to assist farmers that are recovering from historically adverse weather conditions this spring.
“Weather conditions in our state this spring have been historically cold and wet… Two separate storms in recent weeks produced heavy rains, straight-line winds, and tornados that damaged barns and silos and left many residents without power,” the lawmakers wrote to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “These natural disaster events have delayed many farmers from getting into their fields. The most recent National Agricultural Statistics Service crop report for Minnesota indicated that completed plantings for corn (35 percent), soybeans (11 percent), wheat (5 percent), and sugarbeets (8 percent) have all lagged significantly behind last year and the 5-year average.”
“We urge you to grant the state’s request for an APLN declaration to provide financial support for farmers and communities that are struggling with difficult weather conditions this spring,” the lawmakers continued.
In addition to Klobuchar and Smith, the letter was signed by Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Pete Stauber (R-MN).
The full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
Dear Secretary Vilsack:
We write to strongly support the state of Minnesota’s request for a Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator’s Physical Loss Notice (APLN) and urge you to grant this request in order to provide vital support to farmers and communities in our state.
Weather conditions in our state this spring have been historically cold and wet. According to the University of Minnesota’s preliminary climate summary for April 2022, average daily temperatures were six to eight degrees below normal and northwestern Minnesota experienced its wettest month of April dating back to 1895. Two separate storms in recent weeks produced heavy rains, straight-line winds, and tornados that damaged barns and silos.
These natural disaster events have delayed many farmers from getting into their fields. The most recent National Agricultural Statistics Service crop report for Minnesota indicated that completed plantings for corn (35 percent), soybeans (11 percent), wheat (5 percent), and sugarbeets (8 percent) have all lagged significantly behind last year and the 5-year average.
We urge you to grant the state’s request for an APLN declaration to provide financial support for farmers and communities that are struggling with difficult weather conditions this spring.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
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