Agricultural News
NCBA Directs Beef Producers Affected by Hurricane Harvey to Available Relief Assistance Programs
Tue, 29 Aug 2017 16:47:49 CDT
On Tuesday, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Sr. Vice President for Government Affairs, Colin Woodall, addressed members of the beef industry, concerning the impact of hurricane Harvey on the cattlemen of Southeast Texas, their herds and their operations. You can hear his complete interview with NCBA's Director of Policy Communications Ed Frank, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below.
"This is a significant disaster and as everybody is watching the news, you see the impact on the cities in South and Southeast Texas," Woodall said. "What isn't being reported is the impact on farmers and ranchers down there."
Woodall cites Texas A&M University's Dr. David Anderson's calculation of 1.2 million head of cattle currently residing in the affected area, where rains continue to fall and water levels are still rising. This close to the fall season, many of the cattle lost in this event will have been near market weight. For those producers that have fallen victim to hurricane Harvey, Woodall suggests visiting www.BeefUSA.org for instructions on how to apply for relief assistance programs currently being made available.
"As part of the last Farm Bill, NCBA was successful in getting a permanent disaster program included at USDA," he said. "Those programs will be triggered with the disaster declarations that have already been announced for the counties in Texas."
These programs will provide for not only indemnity payments, but also for material goods such as fencing supplies.
The Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association has also worked with the Texas Department of Agriculture to set up the State of Texas Agricultural Relief (STAR) Fund, which will collect monetary donations and be distributed exclusively to agricultural producers in the state. If interested in donating to this fund, which is endorsed by the Animal Agriculture Alliance, click or tap here.
"People are also looking at places to take cattle - cattle that are in flooded pastures. They're just looking for some high ground," Woodall reported. "Texas Department of Agriculture also has a list of places that have dry ground that are willing to take your cattle."
Click here to view that resource, offered by the TDA.
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