Bipartisan Senators Urge USDA to Provide Disaster Relief for Farmers
Senators Seek Assistance for Severe Drought and Exceptional Heat Impacting Crops
Nebraska Senators Ricketts and Fischer Join Effort
WASHINGTON - Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) have joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide disaster relief for farmers struggling with the impacts of severe drought and exceptional heat.
The senators sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, citing reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicating that much of the Midwest and Great Plains regions are experiencing extreme to exceptional drought conditions.
They noted that these conditions have caused significant damage to crops, with corn and soybean yields expected to be well below average. The senators also highlighted the impact on livestock producers, with many facing a shortage of feed and water.
Additional Senators Join Effort
In addition to Ricketts and Fischer, the letter was signed by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), John Boozman (R-AR), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS).
The senators stressed the urgency of the situation, requesting that the USDA quickly implement disaster relief programs to assist affected farmers and ranchers. They also urged the USDA to provide technical assistance and support to help producers recover from the losses.
The USDA has already announced several programs to provide relief to farmers impacted by the drought, including the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Loan Program.
The senators' letter calls for the USDA to expand these programs and provide additional support to ensure that farmers have the resources they need to recover from this devastating event.
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