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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Marion Berry (D-AR, 1st) sent a letter to the President and Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today asking the agency to reconsider its recent drought assistance package and include additional assistance for rice farmers. The drought assistance package, which USDA announced on August 29th, will benefit livestock, upland cotton, and grain sorghum producers while neglecting rice producers.
“USDA should not provide relief for some farmers and exclude others,” said Congressman Berry. “All of our farmers in the MidSouth region suffered considerably during the drought of 2005 regardless of what type of crop they grow. These families deserve fair and equal treatment from the U.S. government.”
USDA’s drought assistance package includes $50 million for a new Livestock Assistance Grant Program for producers in states designated as D3 or D4 on the Drought Monitor between March 7 and August 31, 2006. It is questionable whether the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas will benefit from any of this funding. The package also includes nearly $30 million in unused conservation funds from programs like the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), and expedites an estimated $700 million in counter-cyclical payments to upland cotton and grain sorghum producers.
Text of the letter is attached below.
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August 31, 2006
Secretary Mike Johanns
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
Dear Secretary Johanns:
The First Congressional district in Arkansas is one of the top farming districts in the entire country and ranks number one in rice production. We are proud of our strong farm economy, and our long-standing tradition of providing a safe, and secure food and fiber supply for America's consumers.
The drought of 2005 left countless agricultural producers completely devastated after prices for essential farm inputs, such as diesel fuel, natural gas, and fertilizers, spiked to record highs. To make things worse, hurricane damage significantly hurt rice production. The barge bottleneck along the Mississippi River and its tributaries led to abnormally high storage and transportation costs. Sadly, farmers have no way of directly offsetting unpredictable losses because prices for their goods are predetermined by commodity markets.
I understand that on August 29, 2006, you directed 2005-crop year counter-cyclical payments to be delivered as quickly as possible to expand the financial resources for farmers facing drought. However, these expedited resources only work to help upland cotton and grain sorghum producers. Rice producers were severely hurt during the 2005 crop year and are facing another difficult year. Because of that, I urge you to reconsider your August 29th announcement in order to provide vital assistance for rice producers.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
MARION BERRY
Member of Congress
Cc: President George Bush |
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