Letter to Debra Crusoe, Minnesota State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency - Support Minnesota Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by Flooding

Letter

Dear Ms. Crusoe:

As you know, Minnesota is experiencing significant and severe flooding, affecting producers in a number of regions across the state. As the disaster continues, farmers and ranchers are sure to have questions about the Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs available to them, the process they need to follow to apply for these resources, and the timeline for distribution of funding.

Earlier this year Congress passed a historic Farm Bill that for the first time permanently authorized disaster assistance programs with mandatory funding for farmers and ranchers experiencing losses due to natural disasters. The disaster programs authorized by the previous Farm Bill expired in September 2011 leaving these producers without access to disaster assistance for more than two years. Given the lapse in disaster assistance combined with the subsequent funding of these critical tools in the Farm Bill, it is easy to see how Minnesota producers may have additional questions about the resources available to them.

Due to the urgent nature of this disaster, we urge you to hold public outreach meetings throughout flood-impacted areas to ensure that impacted farmers and ranchers fully understand the following:

· All programs and assistance for which they are eligible, including those that cover livestock losses, losses of pastureland, hay or other forage, and crop losses;

· The interaction between these programs and other risk management tools, such as crop insurance;

· Availability of the Conservation Reserve Program, the Emergency Conservation Program, and the Emergency Watershed Protection Program to help address the shortage of forage and other conservation challenges;

· All FSA credit options available to producers affected by the disaster;

· The complete process by which producers can apply for these resources; and

· The timeline for distribution of funds.

We also urge you to continue stressing the need for producers to report their losses to their county FSA office in an accurate and timely manner. Your constant communication with Minnesota farmers and ranchers will be critical as they continue to evaluate their losses and recover from this disaster.

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Source