Letter to Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack

Letter

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

As you are aware, the Mississippi River is expected to crest above flood stage in the next several days due to the excessive rains in upper Mississippi River basin states. We anticipate severe flooding along the Mississippi River Basin in Louisiana. Agricultural producers in the basin will face significant damage and loss to cropland and livestock as a result.

We are requesting that the following parishes be granted a Secretarial designation:

Ascension
Assumption
Avoyelles
Caldwell
Catahoula
Concordia
East Baton Rouge
East Carroll
Iberia
East Feliciana
Franklin
Iberville
Lafourche
LaSalle
Madison
Morehouse
Pointe Coupee
St. Charles
St. James
St. Landry
St. Martin
St. Mary
Tensas
Terrebonne
West Baton Rouge
West Feliciana.

In addition to the impending floods, Louisiana experienced severe tornadoes on April 26 and 27, 2011. A number of agriculture and livestock producers, including poultry and specialty crop farmers, were affected. We also request the following parishes be granted a Secretarial designation:

DeSoto Sabine Winn
Red River Natchitoches

This would allow qualifying producers to become eligible for emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE).

We greatly appreciate your consideration of this recommendation.

Sincerely,

Bobby Jindal
Governor of Louisiana

Source