WASHINGTON (USDA) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses in the path of Hurricane Dorian that USDA has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. USDA staff in regional, state and county offices stand ready and are eager to help. In a continuing effort to serve the public, USDA partnered with …
Members of Georgia Delegation Urge Timely, Effective Implementation of Disaster Relief Funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to encourage the Trump administration to work with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to ensure that farmers affected by Hurricane Michael receive needed aid as soon as possible. They applauded Secretary Perdue for his support of disaster aid legislation signed into …
Reflecting on Hurricane Michael and UF/IFAS Extension’s Role in Recovery
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UF/IFAS) — As each June brings a new hurricane season, the people of Florida begin to ready themselves for any storm that may target the state’s shorelines. Fresh in the minds of many this year, though, is Hurricane Michael, which struck the Panhandle with category 5 strength eight months ago and left many in recovery mode. This includes …
Georgia Ag Commissioner on Disaster Relief
When U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was in Doerun, Georgia last Friday to discuss the recent signing of disaster relief funding, he was joined by various folks including Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black. The discussion included the next steps for Georgians impacted by Hurricane Michael, and Black told Southeast AgNet’s Gary Cooper the hard work begins now. Sponsored …
Long-Sought Disaster Aid Package Passes House
A federal disaster-relief package, long sought by Florida officials and Panhandle residents recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Michael, received approval Monday from the U.S. House after three earlier attempts were blocked. The 354-58 vote, which came after the House returned from a 10-day holiday recess, sends the $19.1 billion package to President Donald Trump. The Senate backed the measure …
Industry Responds to House Passage of Disaster-Aid Bill
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 This bill provides fiscal year 2019 supplemental appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for expenses related to the consequences of recent wildfires, hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes, typhoons and other natural disasters. The funding provided by this bill is designated as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules. The bill …
Rubio, Hyde-Smith, Wicker, Cotton Introduce Bill to Help Private Forest Owners Recover From Disasters
A Third of Forest Land in the U.S. is Held by Family Landowners, Who Find Limited Options Following Loss of Timber to Natural Disasters U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced the Forest Recovery Act (S.1687), which would amend the U.S. tax code to establish a special rule for losses of uncut timber …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Addresses Florida Congressional Delegation in Washington
Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried appeared before Members of Congress from Florida to discuss key issues facing the agriculture industry. At the invitation of delegation co-chairs U.S. Rep. Alcee L. Hastings and U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, Fried spoke on a panel alongside industry group leaders from the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, and the Florida Forestry Association. Commissioner Fried raised …
Georgia Cotton Farmer Discusses Farm Economy
The U.S. Senate is working on passing a disaster aid bill to provide assistance for farmers hurt by storm damage, including those affected by Hurricane Michael last October. The U.S. House did pass a disaster bill last week, and now congressional leaders and the White House are working on a bipartisan bill that can get through the Senate. Last week Colquitt …
Senators David Perdue and Rick Scott: Families Can’t Wait Any Longer for Disaster Relief
“Together, we should demonstrate to the American people that in times of natural disasters, Washington can still work.” U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to Democrat senators in states impacted by natural disasters urging them to immediately pass disaster relief funding, which has been stalled by political obstruction. It’s been 208 days since Hurricane …