House Passes Disaster Aid

Randall Weiseman General

The US House of Representatives last week passed a separate appropriations bill dealing with agricultural disaster aid by a vote of 302-120 — enough votes to override a threatened presidential veto.

The bill would provide $3.5 billion in agricultural disaster assistance for producers affected by various weather conditions over the past two years.

Eligibility is based on whether producers carried crop insurance during the selected year and provides assistance for farmers who lost 35 percent or more of their crop. The legislation also includes a one month extension of the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program. MILC is a vital tool to assist dairy producers when prices are low.