Passage of a federal disaster bill is good news for drought-stressed farmers and ranchers, according to a statement released Aug. 2 by Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling.
“This will offer immediate drought assistance for our producers while we wait on Congress to pass a new farm bill,” Spradling said.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 6233, the Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance bill, Thursday, Aug. 2.
The legislation includes reauthorization of disaster assistance programs, specifically, Livestock Indemnity Payments, Livestock Forage Disaster Programs, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish, and the Tree Assistance Program.
To pay for this disaster assistance program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program is capped at $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2013 and the Conservation Stewardship Program is limited to 11 million acres in fiscal year 2013.
“We appreciate Congressman Lucas for getting this immediate relief to our producers,” Spradling said. “We know his priority is to get a new farm bill passed, but until that happens, this will greatly ease our burden. The challenges our producers are facing with this drought underscores how important it is that Congress complete a new farm bill this year.”
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