Letter to Tom Vilsack, Secretary US Department of Agriculture - Farm Bill Means Bushels of Relief for Wayne Fruit Farmers

Letter

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

I would like to commend you on your early efforts to begin the implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014 also known as the 2014 Farm Bill, as it is of great importance to our farmers and rural economies. I would like to bring to your attention the importance of the retroactive Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provision included in the farm bill. Fruit growers in New York were devastated in the 2012 frost and I urge you to expedite the implementation of this program to get assistance out to growers as quickly as possible.

As you know, in the spring of 2012, growers experienced extreme losses due to an unexpected and devastating freeze. Thankfully, the recently passed 2014 farm bill included both improvements to strengthen the NAP and a provision that would allow for retroactive assistance for fruit growers in counties with a 2012 disaster declaration due to freeze or frost. This program would allow farmers to buy up to 65% coverage for losses in 2012 and receive assistance up to $125,000 based on acres planted and the value of production. As states around the country have been experiencing another year of devastating cold weather and crop losses, it is of great importance that you expedite rulemaking using the new coverage levels included in the bill so that farmers who are still grappling with financial losses from the 2012 frost are able to quickly receive NAP assistance.

Again, I commend your efforts to implement the important provisions and programs in the 2014 Farm Bill and urge you to address the retroactive NAP as quickly as possible to assist our nation's farmers that have been suffering from the 2012 frost for far too long.

Sincerely,

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