Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) today commended Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for issuing drought assistance relief payments to two Texas counties suffering forage loss due to prolonged drought conditions. Wilson and Guadalupe county farmers are the first in the nation to receive Farm Service Agency drought relief payments.

“The wait is winding down and relief is on its way. This is good news for Wilson and Guadalupe counties,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Finally, our ranchers and farmers are seeing their applications get processed. Now payments will roll out to those who’ve applied across Texas.”

Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that ranchers who’ve signed up for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) have started to receive disaster relief payments in Wilson and Guadalupe counties, two of the hardest-hit drought disaster counties nationwide.

"These payments will help producers recover from financial setbacks due to drought," said Secretary Vilsack. "This program is just one of our disaster programs, which help stabilize the livestock industry when disasters occur."

This August, Congressman Cuellar and the Texas Farm Service Agency State Director Juan Garcia travelled across the state announcing application timetables for drought relief. LFP is one of several drought relief programs providing payments to eligible livestock producers who’ve suffered livestock grazing losses due to drought or fire.

“Our farmers and ranchers support one of the last legendary trades in Texas,” said Cuellar. “This compensation will help them recover from unforeseen losses over the past two years. They deserve every dollar headed their way.”

Farmers can apply for LFP assistance for 2008 losses through December 10, 2009. Applications for LFP relief for 2009 losses will be accepted through January 30, 2010.

The Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) supports the state’s agricultural producers through grant and loan programs as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, it helped the Texas FSA clear a backlog of 163 farm loans worth $12.4 million.

Today, FSA has $5.2 million worth of direct operating loan funds available to Texas farms, with more funds being made available for FY 2010 this October. This year, FSA has provided $200 million worth of loans and funding to farms nationwide. 

For more information on FSA’s Texas loan and assistance programs please visit:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=tx&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing

For more information on today’s announcement please visit:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/09/0476.xml 

                   

 

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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Government Oversight & Reform Committees in the 111th Congress.  Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition.