| WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a victory for Arkansas' agriculture community, U.S. Congressman Marion Berry (D-1st) announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finally issued a disaster declaration for the state of Arkansas. This emergency declaration authorizes farmers to apply for federal loans to help recover revenue lost from severe weather conditions.
“We waited a long time for this disaster declaration and are relieved that USDA is finally beginning to understand how dire the conditions are here in Arkansas," said Congressman Berry. "This declaration is an important first step, but will only provide loans for our farmers who need immediate relief. As a farmer, and representative for the largest agricultural region in the state, I can assure you our farmers need more than just loans. They need direct relief from the federal government, no strings attached."
Today's disaster declaration makes all qualified farm operators in Arkansas eligible for low-interest emergency (EM) loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Farmers will have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans that will help cover their losses. Eligible producers may borrow up to 100% of their actual production loss as long as the total amount does not exceed $500,000.
Although the emergency declaration provides farmers with loans, it will not provide enough relief to address all of the challenges facing Arkansas' agricultural community. Congressman Berry is encouraging USDA to endorse his bill, H.R. 3702 the Agriculture Assistance Act of 2005, to provide farmers with relief above and beyond any funding the state would receive from a federal disaster declaration. The legislation would give farmers who live in a disaster region the choice of either an additional half-payment above the amount they received in 2005 from the Farm Bill or payment based on yield loss.
"This disaster declaration provides rural America with the foundation for a comprehensive disaster aid package," said Congressman Berry. "Now that USDA recognizes the severity of the conditions in Arkansas, its time the Leadership in Congress endorse legislation that provides farmers with real relief instead of loans that just add to existing debt."
The Agriculture Assistance Act has the support of every member of Arkansas' congressional delegation. The legislation has been referred to the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture for further review. |
