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The United States Department of Agriculture has informed Congress that disaster assistance payments for agriculture producers are expected to be sent by the end of this year.
“For years, I have pushed for disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers who were affected by the prolonged drought. I’m proud to tell them today that help is on the way,” said Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson.
According to the information provided by the USDA, the program for accepting applications for assistance will be in place by approximately late October. Aid will be sent to producers on a rolling basis, with those applying early receiving assistance first. Once applications are submitted it should take no longer than two months for them to be processed, so the first payments should be received at the end of this year.
Farmers are eligible for payments if they can show losses of at least 35% in 2005, 2006 or 2007. They also must have had crop insurance during the affected year. Livestock producers must be either located in, or contiguous to, declared disaster counties and must also show losses in 2005, 2006 or 2007. Information and applications will be available through Farm Service Agency offices later this year.
The disaster assistance program was included in the FY07 emergency supplemental spending bill approved by Congress last month. Nelson voted in favor of the legislation.
“While I am disappointed that it will take so long to get the program up and running, I am pleased that assistance will be finally provided to our producers,” said Nelson. “It shouldn’t have taken so long for drought to be treated like the disaster that is, but we are closing in on getting assistance.”
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