Issue Position: Disaster Assistance

Issue Position

As any farmer in Arkansas knows, the unpredictability of our state's weather is a constant concern. From time to time, natural disasters strike our state, destroying crops and jeopardizing an important source of revenue and jobs for our state.

Over the past year, our area has experienced numerous floods, frost and severe storms that have added hardships to our already struggling farmers, which are facing some of the worst economic times since the Great Depression.

In 2009, I cosponsored H.R. 4177, the Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act. This legislation will help alleviate much of the financial stress put upon many Arkansas farmers and farm families that have been affected by natural disasters, particularly the excessive rain which has disrupted the growth and harvest of many crops throughout the state.
The Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act calls for over two billion dollars to be made immediately available to farmers directly impacted by natural disasters this year in counties declared a primary disaster by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Although the 2008 Farm Bill included permanent disaster assistance, these payments for the 2009 crop year will not be not be made until around January 2011. Because of how the American agricultural system works, many Arkansas farmers affected by the heavy rains need assistance quickly in order to continue to operate in the coming year. This bill will provide the funds necessary for many farmers to make it through this upcoming growing season as they wait for the full implementation of the Farm Bill and its disaster assistance program.

In addition, this legislation is imperative to ensure that an abundant and safe food supply is available to American consumers. As you may know, total farm income this year is expected to be around $57 billion, down from $87 billion last year. This 34.5 percent decrease means that many producers will be unable to afford to plant for the 2010 crop year or to continue their livestock operations. Without immediate assistance, our national food supply will be in jeopardy.

Like you, I am deeply concerned with the tremendous financial burden that has been placed on Arkansas's farmers. Growing up, I spent time working on my grandfather's farm in southern Arkansas and have seen firsthand the impact that Mother Nature plays on our farmland and the families who rely on it. Please know that I will continue my efforts in our nation's capital to advocate for Arkansas's farmers, giving them the assurance that their country stands behind them and is willing to make the necessary investment in their future.

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