Agricultural News
Oklahoma Farmers Could See $106 Million Pay Day if Disaster Aid Shows Up
Fri, 06 Aug 2010 7:17:36 CDT
The White House has promised Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln that they can move money around and come up with $1.5 billion in disaster aid that will include 210 million dollars for Arkansas farmers- money that could arrive just days ahead of the November general elections. Lincoln barely survived the Democratic primary in the Razorback state- and faces an uphill climb in this election cycle where being a Democrat on the ballot on election day may be bad for your political health.
The catch right now is that the Obama Administration has not figured out how to move the money around and what programs will take a hit to get Lincoln the money she wants to hand out. The Senator told Agri-Pulse last week that "In exchange for pulling ag disaster from the small business bill, I have secured an agreement from both Majority Leader Reid and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and have their commitment to deliver critical agriculture disaster assistance administratively in the next two weeks."
It might be noted that the Chairman of the House Ag Committee, Collin Peterson, told the Sugar Symposium in Vail, Co this past week that his staff is saying there is no way the USDA can move that much money around administratively.
Arkansas farmers would get the most cash in this Disaster Aid package, according to estimates that have been made by the Environmental Working Group, who have published the data on their website. Arkansas would get over $210 million, followed by Illinois with over $170 million and Texas with $146 million. Oklahoma farmers also do VERY WELL- as our state is in line for a $106 million dollar pay day if the money is found and delivered.
Based on the EWG website, Oklahoma farmers and ranchers would be receiving $106 million dollars in Disaster Aid under the Lincoln- White House Disaster Aid plan. Oklahoma is ranked the fifth largest state in terms of dollars that could come from the Lincoln plan. Fourteen Oklahoma counties could see payments over $3 million each coming in.
Those counties include:
Texas County, Oklahoma $5,836,699
Garfield County, Oklahoma $5,535,355
Grant County, Oklahoma $5,416,936
Caddo County, Oklahoma $5,147,924
Tillman County, Oklahoma $4,761,712
Washita County, Oklahoma $4,674,832
Jackson County, Oklahoma $4,636,536
Kay County, Oklahoma $4,122,144
Alfalfa County, Oklahoma $3,996,980
Custer County, Oklahoma $3,800,783
Kingfisher County, Oklahoma $3,530,004
Cimarron County, Oklahoma $3,089,159
Blaine County, Oklahoma $3,056,491
All told, 74 of the 77 Oklahoma counties have money that could be coming in from this Disaster Aid package that may forthcoming- as promised by Senator Lincoln to farmers and as promised to Lincoln by White House Chief of Staff Emanuel- all outside of the normal legislative process.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below for an audio report with Stewart Doan of Agri-Pulse on the status of this Disaster Aid package- and click here for an earlier Agri-Oulse story on Senator Lincoln saying she has the promise of the White House for this aid.
Click here for the rundown on the EWG website for the Oklahoma breakdown by county of money from this Disaster Aid plan.
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