Hoeven Pushes For Federal Aid For Ranchers, Farmers, Homeowners

Press Release

Hoeven Pushes For Federal Aid For Ranchers, Farmers, Homeowners

BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today asked U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack to accelerate federal aid to farmers and ranchers in the wake of severe winter weather and flooding throughout North Dakota this season.

Separately, he spoke with U.S. Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano to help expedite the state's request for Individual Assistance funding for flood-damaged homes, as well as for 90 percent federal reimbursement for damages to public infrastructure due to recent flooding. Additionally, Hoeven asked her to approve the state's request for a snow emergency to help rural communities that have been hard hit by heavy snowfalls and flooding.

"Record snowfalls, low temperatures and persistent winter storms have taken a real toll on North Dakota ranchers, farmers and homeowners this year, and they need help," Hoeven said. "Although we have a Presidential Disaster Declaration in place to assist communities with flood damage to public infrastructure, that unfortunately doesn't provide direct aid to citizens. That's why we need help through the Individual Assistance Program for homeowners, as well aid from the USDA for our farmers and ranchers."

Hoeven asked the agriculture secretary to approve implementation of the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) to help producers procure feed, and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) to compensate for herd losses due to severe weather.

Vilsack said those programs, which are part of the new Farm Bill passed last summer, are unavailable because rules have not yet been written for them yet; however, the secretary said he would seek sources of funding under existing programs to help if possible. At Hoeven's request, Sec. Vilsack said his office would contact Sec. of Homeland Security Napolitano to reverse DHS's denial last month of a presidential snow emergency.

Parts of the state have reached or exceeded their record snowfalls, with accumulations of up to 500 percent of their average. Heavy snow pack in parts of the state has resulted in stranded herds, high calf mortality and shortage of feed at a critical time of the year. As the spring progresses, unusually high accumulations of snow are making feed areas inaccessible and calving areas dangerously wet, in addition to causing widespread flooding, or risk of flooding, throughout North Dakota.

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