Family Farmers, Ranchers to Receive Disaster Assistance

US - Family farmers and ranchers affected by weather-related losses received a lifeline today as President Bush signed legislation containing $3 billion in emergency agricultural disaster assistance. After years of urging Congress and the president to support disaster assistance, family farmers and ranchers devastated by weather-related losses will receive a chance to stay in agriculture for another year.
calendar icon 28 May 2007
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“Producers across the countryside have been struggling for three long years to overcome the devastating effects of weather-related losses,” NFU President Tom Buis said. “I am thrilled Congress, and now the President, has acted to ensure this much-needed assistance will soon be in the hands of those affected by devastating weather conditions.”

Securing disaster relief has long been an NFU priority and this assistance will provide a much-needed helping hand for the countryside. Producers in virtually every state have been affected by Mother Nature’s fury, leaving many struggling to survive. America’s family farmers and ranchers are the best in the world, but they cannot control the weather.

The $3 billion in disaster assistance was included in the fiscal year (FY) 2007 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill and provides assistance to producers who suffered crop and livestock losses from weather-related disasters during either 2005, 2006 or 2007. Congress approved the relief with a large, bipartisan majority on May 24.

The supplemental bill also extends the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program for one month, through September 2007. This extension ensures that MILC will be included in the budget baseline for the 2007 Farm Bill. The program is vital to dairy producers and has been instrumental in helping keep producers in business when milk prices bottom out.
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