A burn scar from a recent rangeland wildfire is evident in Kleberg County Texas – more than 3 million acres of rangeland have been lost to wildfires in Texas this year.
Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson traveled to South Texas last week in the midst of the historic drought impacting most of Texas and the Southwest and adversely affecting thousands of agricultural producers. Nelson took the opportunity to visit with area farmers, ranchers and agribusiness representatives who are working hard to keep their operations going in the face of the natural disaster. He made a point to reassure everyone that Secretary Vilsack and the USDA are committed to helping affected producers. Read more »
Flooding devastation in Missouri put farmland underwater.
On the heels of Secretary Vilsack’s visit to the Midwest last week to inspect Missouri River flood damage to area farms and communities, Farm and Foreign Service (FFAS) Acting Deputy Under Secretary Karis Gutter stopped by Mounds City, Missouri and Hamburg, Iowa to hear from local producers, and to see for himself the devastating effects of the flooding. Read more »
Tags: Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Emergency Conservation Program, flooding, FSA, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program, Iowa, Livestock Indemnity Program, Missouri, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments, Tom Vilsack
Rural Development
The Farm Service Agency is reminding crop and livestock producers throughout states that have recently experienced severe damage from flooding, wildfires and tornadoes that FSA programs may be available to assist with recovery.
According to Acting FSA Administrator Val Dolcini, whether it’s wildfires in the Southwest, flooding or tornados in the Midwest, Plains, and Southeast, learning about our FSA disaster programs is an important first step for producers in the recovery process. Read more »
Tags: Emergency Assistance for Livestock Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program, Emergency Conservation Program, flooding, FSA, Livestock Indemnity Program, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, RMA, Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments, SURE, Tornado, Val Dolcini
Food Safety, Plant and Animal Health
The massive snow storm that covered half of the United States, producing two feet of snow in some parts of the Midwest and bringing a wintery mix of ice and snow in the Northeastern parts of the nation, could also cause serious harm to livestock.
With some pasture and forage areas destroyed with the remnants of what has been labeled “Snowmageddon,” many producers also are losing their animals to cold and hypothermia, and are seeking ways to help recuperate their losses. Read more »
Farmers and ranchers from Kewa Pueblo affected by three major storms this past summer received much needed information on Farm Service Agency programs from the staff of New Mexico’s FSA. A workshop was held last month to provide information and answer questions from producers who lost their crops and cattle as a result of these storms.
The workshop was in response to the Pueblo’s request for assistance. A team of state and county employees provided information and signed up about 40 producers for programs such as Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program, Livestock Indemnity Program, Emergency Conservation Program and Non-Insured Assistance Program. Read more »