fsa

FSA Administrator Fordyce Explains Disaster Relief Block Grants

Dan Economy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will make available $800 million to agricultural producers in Alabama, Florida and Georgia affected by hurricanes Michael and Florence. The state block grants are part of a broader $3 billion package to help producers recover from 2018 and 2019 natural disasters, which includes the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program-Plus (WHIP+) as …

florida

USDA Designates 11 Florida Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Dan Economy, Florida, Industry News Release

Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 11 Florida counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington counties who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Michael that occurred on Oct. 10, 2018, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) …

house

House Bill Would Increase Disaster Relief For Farmers

Dan Alabama, Economy, Industry News Release

Alabama congressmen were instrumental in adding $1.9 billion in disaster relief for farmers suffering agricultural losses to the supplemental appropriations bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives by a 237-187 vote.  H.R. 268 originally authorized $1.1 billion for relief. During debate, an amendment co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Robert Aderholt and Martha Roby and Democrat Terri Sewell was adopted, increasing …

conservation

NRCS Offers Hurricane Disaster Assistance to Alabama Landowners

Dan Alabama, Industry News Release, USDA-NRCS

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Alabama Ben Malone announced a special financial assistance sign up for Alabama farmers and ranchers who suffered damage to working lands and livestock mortality because of Hurricane Michael. Affected producers are encouraged to sign up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The first batching period will end on October 26, 2018. A …

Florida lawmakers

What the Budget Bill Means for Farmers and Ranchers

Dan Economy, Industry News Release, Legislative

The disaster assistance spending measure has been watched carefully by producers who were hit hard by natural disasters. Producers in California, Florida, Texas, and even Puerto Rico lost crops and livestock because of wildfires and hurricanes last year. Politico says America’s dairy and cotton producers also have been looking for subsidy increases because of a serious economic downturn. The bill …

cotton crop report

Federal Budget Deal Passed Friday Will Aid Farmers

Dan Cotton, Dairy, Industry News Release, Legislative

The U.S. Senate and House moved quickly Friday to pass a budget deal that includes assistance for cotton and dairy farmers, following a brief government shutdown. President Donald J. Trump signed the bill into law this morning. The Alabama Farmers Federation’s Mitt Walker said the bill will provide a cushion for producers, which is critical because of dim market outlooks. …

hurricane

Seven Counties in Florida Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Dan Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Weather

Assistance to Producers in Surrounding States The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Madison and Washington counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by Hurricane Irma that occurred from Sept. 9, 2017, through Sept. 12, 2017. Farmers and ranchers in the contiguous counties of Bay, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Lafayette, …

putnam

Putnam on Inclusion of Funding for Florida Agriculture in Disaster Spending Bill

Dan Florida

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ proposed $81 billion disaster spending bill, which includes $2.6 billion for agricultural assistance: “Florida’s farmers, ranchers and growers suffered unprecedented damage from Hurricane Irma, and the announcement of proposed emergency funding for Florida agriculture is the first bit of good news we’ve heard …