Dec 17, 2019North Dakota senator secures $1.5 billion in ag disaster relief
“We secured another $1.5 billion in disaster assistance for our farmers and ranchers in the Agriculture Appropriations bill. This funding is in addition to the $3 billion we secured earlier this year,” said Hoeven. “We also added provisions to make sure that our sugar producers are included and to help cover quality, excess moisture and drought losses, which is helpful for our farmers and ranchers. We not only have low commodity prices but unprecedented weather. The disaster assistance and advancing trade agreements will help to get our producers through this tough stretch.”
- $1.5 billion in disaster assistance, which is being reprogrammed from unspent Fiscal Year 2017 disaster funding. This funding is in addition to the $3 billion in disaster funding approved earlier this year.
- Requiring the secretary to make disaster payments to eligible sugar cooperatives.
- Expands loss coverage by authorizing USDA to cover quality losses, in addition to production losses.
- Clarifies eligible disaster events by including losses related to excess moisture and D3 drought.
As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has been working to secure additional support to help producers weather the challenges of natural disasters and trade uncertainty. Hoeven has been working to:
- Secure a disaster designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for 47 North Dakota counties.
- Provide disaster funding through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) to help cover crop losses.
- Secure additional Market Facilitation Program payments, which is also funded through the Agriculture Appropriations Committee, and ensure the November tranche was sent out as early as possible.
- Hoeven ensured MFP included coverage for all Title I crops, including soybeans, wheat, corn, canola and others.
The WHIP+ enhancements also includes an additional $1 million for potato research.
