Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) is inviting the area’s ranchers and farmers to an informational meeting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on Tuesday, November 22 at the Zapata County Pavilion, located at 405 W 23^rd Street in Zapata, Texas. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. with the program commencing at 10 a.m.

“I decided to organize this meeting as a result of meetings between my Washington, D.C., legislative staff and officials and constituents in Zapata County last month,” said Congressman Cuellar. “My office met with county leaders, and one topic of concern was the lack of an FSA office in Zapata. I am hopeful that this meeting will answer a lot of the questions that ranchers and farmers may have. I thank Judith Canales, FSA State Executive Director, and representatives from USDA FSA, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Zapata County for helping to make this meeting possible.”

Meeting topics include acreage reporting; agriculture risk coverage (ARC) and price loss coverage (PLC); Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP); farm records changes and updates; Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).

Speakers include:

• Judith A. Canales, FSA State Executive Director
•  Benny Cano Jr., FSA District Director
• Arnulfo Lerma, FSA Farm Loan Manager
• Rene Reyna, FSA County Executive Director – Starr and Zapata Counties
• Zaragosa Rodriguez IV, Texas A&M AgriLife County Extension Agent