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Texas Agriculture Archive

November 4, 2005

Agriculture needs hurricane relief

By Kenneth Dierschke
TFB President

As yet another hurricane—this time Wilma—slammed into the Gulf Coast, Southeast Texas is still digging out from the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. There are still isolated pockets without power and the damage was severe. Agricultural producers were faced with scattered cattle herds, miles of downed fences and thousands of acres of damaged timber.

Rural Southeast Texas has come a long way since Rita's landfall, a tribute to the perseverance of the people who live there. Meanwhile, Farm Bureau is working in Congress to get badly needed help for the agricultural producers impacted by this horrific hurricane year.

For example, The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) was implemented in last year's Military Construction and Hurricane Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2005 and was authorized for assisting producers of eligible trees, bushes, vines, and forest land. A straight cost-share of 75 percent per farm would be easier to administer than the complicated TAP program, would reach more producers, and would reflect the original intent of Congress when the program was first authorized. If a county is declared a disaster area by a Presidential directive, that should be enough to warrant cost-share assistance. We'd also like to see removal of the statutory prohibition against nursery trees, vines and Christmas trees.

The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) is a program that provides emergency cost-share assistance of 75 percent to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters. ECP covers practices such as removing debris, restoring fences and conservation structures, and providing water to livestock in drought conditions. Farm Bureau supports adequate funding of ECP for all affected counties. Also, given the extreme devastation to the affected areas, USDA should waive the 25 percent cost-share requirement.

The Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations last year also made $15 million available for timber owners who producer timber for commercial purposes. Another program provided $10 million until expended for private forest landowners that owned less than 5,000 acres. This program worked well in Alabama last year, and could be used as a prototype for the other affected states.

The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) was utilized for partial reimbursements to eligible livestock producers for livestock losses due to natural disasters. LIP has not been funded recently, but it would be helpful to compensate producers who lost poultry, swine, sheep, poultry, beef and dairy cattle, and goats.

These and other proposed actions could help make recovery much easier for our fellow agricultural producers. In the four states impacted by the string of hurricanes this year, agriculture has suffered much more than a setback. This was a truly devastating blow that will surely take many farmers out of business. Without an adequate assistance package, farmers and ranchers across the Gulf Coast states may face a fight they can't win.

Finally, Texas Farm Bureau will receive some funds from the American Farm Bureau Federation's hurricane relief effort. Texas Farm Bureau members who are also agricultural producers in the affected counties may be eligible for relief from that fund. County Farm Bureaus in the hurricane zone have a form for these members who would like to be considered for this assistance. The form is also available online at www.txfb.org.

Also, for everyone, there is still an opportunity to help our fellow agricultural producers that were hit so hard by Mother Nature this year. The American Farm Bureau will still accept tax deductible contributions at AFBFA Hurricane Ag Fund, 600 Maryland Ave., Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20024. If you wish, you may designate your contribution for Rita's Texas victims.