The USDA is providing assistance after a severe derecho a widespread, long-lived wind storm swept through the Midwest of the US, devastating farms and agricultural practices.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the availability of assistance for agricultural producers in the Midwest affected by the recent severe weather to help eligible farmers and ranchers re-establish their operations and continue to produce sustainable, safe food. The derecho is thought to have destroyed tens of acres of cropland in Iowa and beyond.
Our agricultural producers provide Americans and consumers around the world with such abundance, its critical that we stand with them when confronting disasters like the derecho that has devastated so many in Americas heartland, said Bill Northey, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation.
Livestock owners and contract growers who experience above normal livestock deaths due to specific weather events, as well as to disease or animal attacks, may qualify for assistance underUSDAs Livestock Indemnity Program. The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program provides payments to eligible producers to help compensate for losses due to disease (including cattle tick fever), and adverse weather or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, that are not covered by certain other disaster programmes.
Producers of non-insurable crops who suffer crop losses, lower yields or are prevented from planting agricultural commodities may also be eligible for assistance underUSDAs Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Programif the losses were due to natural disasters.
USDA also can provide financial resources through itsEnvironmental Quality Incentives Programto help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources. Assistance may also be available for emergency animal morality disposal from natural disasters and other causes.USDAs Emergency Watershed Protection Programalso can help relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by flood, fires and other natural disasters that impair a watershed.
Orchardists and nursery tree growers may be eligible for assistance throughUSDAs Tree Assistance Programto help replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.
USDA has issued a series of actions to protect food safety if the power goes out in an emergency:
Steps to follow after a weather emergency:
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USDA assists farmers, ranchers and producers affected by severe weather - New Food
