Press Release 08/29/2006
Contact: Public Affairs (404) 656-3689
USDA announces funds to help farmers & ranchers affected by drought
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns today announced he was making $780 million in new, unused and accelerated funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) available to help farmers and ranchers impacted by drought.
The funding includes a new program for producers called the Livestock Assistance Grant Program, which will provide $50 million in Section 32 funds to states in block grant form. States will distribute to livestock producers in counties that were designated as D3 or D4 on the Drought Monitor anytime between March 7 and August 31, 2006.
Also included will be nearly $30 million in unused conservation funds from the Emergency Conservation Program and Grassland Reserve Program. In addition, Secretary Johanns has directed an accelerated payment of an estimated $700 million in 2005-crop year counter cyclical payments will be made to upland cotton and grain sorghum producers, and payments to peanut farmers will be expedited following the calculation of the final 2005 average price.
“Any assistance our farmers can receive is greatly appreciated,” said Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin, “but the amount our farmers are likely to receive will be far less than they need.”
Additional information will be sent to the states at the end of the week after USDA reviews the Drought Monitor report of August 31 to determine the number of states and counties that qualify for the Livestock Assistance Grant Program.
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