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Wednesday, June 15, 2011
NELSON PLEASED AG SECRETARY TO VIEW NEBRASKA FLOODING

June 15, 2011 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson said he’d asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to examine Nebraska’s flooding firsthand and that Vilsack plans to do so this week. Vilsack also confirmed that the Midwest flooding will be treated as a natural disaster by USDA and covered by crop insurance.

Nelson said on his weekly Nebraska media conference call that he’d spoken with Vilsack on Tuesday. Vilsack told him of plans to visit Nebraska and western Iowa. Nelson told Vilsack he hoped to join him in Nebraska on Friday if the Senate’s schedule allows.

“Everyone at home is watching the flood situation. It looks like it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” Senator Nelson said on the conference call. “The impact will be felt across our state, from west to east with record amounts of water flowing through the Platte River system and the Missouri River system. My staff and I are monitoring the situation closely. And my thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the flooding.

“I’m pleased Secretary Vilsack plans to view the flooding himself to understand the magnitude of what we face in the Midwest with floodwaters this year.”

Nelson said that one issue he brought up with Vilsack was a rumor that USDA might treat the flooding as man-made, and that farmers wouldn’t be able to recoup losses under their crop insurance coverage.

“Not so,” said Nelson. “Secretary Vilsack assures me USDA considers these events natural disasters. He says that crop insurance will, in fact, cover damages, along with disaster assistance where applicable.

“Clearly, aid will be needed. The Secretary noted that NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has measured rainfall for the last 117 years. This is Nebraska’s 7th wettest year. It’s Wyoming’s 2nd wettest, Montana’s 3rd wettest and South Dakota’s 10th wettest.

“That’s a lot of water upstream that could affect us this year,” Nelson said.

For additional federal aid to be extended to cover flood damage, Vilsack told Nelson that there must be a natural disaster resulting in at least a 30 percent production loss to one crop in a county. The Governor must make a request in writing to the Secretary of Agriculture within 3 months of the end of the disaster.

“We expect those steps will occur,” said Nelson.

Also in his conference call, Nelson addressed related issues. Following are some audio links:

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