September 22, 2006
Members of the U.S. Senate
Dear Senator:
The state commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) urge you to support emergency disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers suffering losses and damages in 2005 and 2006. This assistance is critically needed to help farmers, ranchers and their communities recoup from financial losses due to hurricanes, drought, fires, tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters occurring in both years.
NASDA believes that emergency agricultural disaster assistance is a high priority requiring action by Congress this year. While there are risk management programs, such as crop insurance, disaster loans, and emergency grazing; the relief needed greatly exceeds the levels these programs can provide. Supplemental assistance is being offered to farmers and ranchers by USDA, however, not all producers will be able to attain the levels of assistance to return to viable production levels.
State departments of agriculture recommend the inclusion of provisions that make available grants to states which can be used to provide economic assistance to agricultural producers, and give priority to the support of specialty crops and livestock. This section demonstrates how the federal government and states can partner with one another in directing assistance to those who need it most.
NASDA just concluded its annual meeting in Virginia this week, wherein significant concerns were expressed about the dramatic nature and extent of disaster-related conditions for U.S. agriculture over the last two years. We also adopted recommendations relating to the next farm bill. In those recommendations, NASDA strongly supports the inclusion of a disaster assistance title in the next farm bill so these ad hoc disaster bills can be avoided in the future.
Sincerely,
Valoria H. Loveland
Director
Washington State Department of Agriculture
NASDA President