Letter to Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture - USDA Must Grant A Disaster Declaration So Emergency Loans Are Available

Letter

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

I write to bring your attention to a looming situation impacting farmers in Lewis and St. Lawrence counties in New York caused by recent spring flooding. I urge the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) take immediate action to prepare all resources needed to expeditiously determine a disaster declaration and assist farmers and growers in readying the necessary documentation to report losses through the local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Since we anticipate that severe damage and losses to farmers' property and equipment, feed supplies, cattle, and stored milk, farmers will require the quick action of USDA to approve emergency disaster loans and disaster program assistance to mitigate the cash flow problems that occur after losses due to flooding.

Fortunately, while the Farm Bill includes a permanent reauthorization of the agricultural disaster programs, USDA emergency loans may be required to help farmers that sustained major losses during this recent flood to recover and stay viable for years to come. Again, I urge you to devote all necessary resources to both help farmers access important agricultural disaster programs.

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