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Texas Agriculture Archive

April 21, 2006

TFB urges Congress
to act on disaster aid

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison addressed more than 180 Texas Farm Bureau members traveling to Washington D.C. for the National Affairs Awards Trip.

Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke is urging the U.S. House of Representatives to speed disaster relief efforts to the many farmers and ranchers across the state suffering through lingering drought conditions.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a multi-billion dollar spending package that will fund a variety of programs ranging from defense spending to disaster relief programs. Included in the plan is some $3.4 billion to assist in agriculture-related disaster situations in 2005 brought on by floods, hurricanes and drought losses, dollars that will primarily be directed at the states of Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The House is considering similar legislation.

"Your assistance in expediting the passage of the Supplemental Appropriations bill in the House, including the agriculture disaster assistance funding, will be greatly appreciated and is sorely needed," Dierschke wrote to the Texas delegation, noting the organization supports the Senate Appropriations Committee action.

"While we recognize that full Senate consideration is necessary, your assistance is critical to the Texas' agriculture situation in 2006."

The Senate legislation includes much needed disaster assistance for Texas, Dierschke said.

Many parts of the state are still suffering from drought conditions experienced in 2005, and crop production this year will reflect lack of adequate rainfall. Much of Texas continues to face a deficit rainfall situation, and producers are experiencing a cost/price squeeze in their operations, he said.

And thanks to an amendment cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the bill also contains another $611 million specifically to help Texas producers devastated by wildfires in the Texas Panhandle last month. The original language of the spending bill disaster provisions focused on events occurring in 2005 only.

"The wildfire damage in the Panhandle destroyed more than 1 million acres of rangeland, countless miles of fence and tremendous animal losses," Dierschke said. "We want to thank Sen. Hutchison for her critical assistance in expediting this matter for us in Washington."

The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Hurricane Recovery will likely go before the full Senate in early May, Hutchison said. The House version of a similar funding bill currently contains no language for 2006 aid.

In the meantime, Hutchison said, farmers and ranchers should contact their local Farm Service Agency offices to begin the application process to receive these dollars. That way, she says, producers will be set to receive their share of the funding as soon as money becomes available.