Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner has authorized the release of payments to tens of thousands of farmers and ranchers who have suffered losses and faced financial hardships in recent years because of floods, wildfires, tornadoes and other weather-related disasters.
USDA is currently processing about one billion dollars in payments under the Crop Disaster Program, Livestock Compensation Program and Livestock Indemnity Program, as the sign-up for these programs continue. The programs provide payments to agricultural producers who suffered crop, livestock and feed losses from January 1, 2005 through Feb. 28, 2007. But, producers must choose only one of those years for which to receive payments. Additionally, USDA will soon issue more than 11 million dollars to growers in Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi and Oklahoma through the LCP Catfish Grant Program.
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