 |
||
| Welcome to the Angus e-List |
||
| News Update Sept. 12, 2005 R-CALF Seeks Rehearing on Border Decision Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) last week submitted a petition to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for a rehearing before the full court regarding an earlier ruling issued by a three-judge panel that resumed imports of live Canadian cattle. In the petition, R-CALF disagreed with the level of discretion afforded to the Secretary of Agriculture by the panel, and argued that the panel’s decision overlooked or misstated a number of important points of law and fact. To view the full petition, visit www.r-calfusa.com/BSE/bse_fmd.htm. USDA’s Production Forecast to Include Hurricane Damage The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the September crop production report, to be released later today by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), will include crop yield and production forecasts that include hurricane damage along the Gulf Coast and drought conditions in the Midwest. “This report will provide the first USDA assessment of the effects of Hurricane Katrina on our farmers and ranchers,” Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns said. “While it will take some time to determine the full impact of both the hurricane and drought, this report will give us some insight into the extent of the damage.” According to USDA, data from the surveys generally reflect crop conditions as of the first of the month. The primary goal is to provide the most accurate production forecast possible based on the survey data available from producers and field visits. USDA Designates Agricultural Disaster Areas Thirty-one counties in Mississippi have been designated primary agricultural disaster areas due to losses sustained by farmers, ranchers and other ag producers after Hurricane Katrina. The disaster designation makes certain producers in the counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Secretary Johanns today also designated counties in Kansas, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas and Virginia primary agricultural disaster areas. In Kansas, some counties received the designation due to losses caused by severe storms including hail, high winds, lightening, excessive rain, flash flooding and flooding. In California, Sutter County was designated as a primary disaster area due to losses caused by unseasonable rain. Severe storms, including excessive rainfall, hail and high winds, caused primary disaster areas in Minnesota. In Oregon, Polk and Yamhill counties were designated as primary disaster areas due to losses caused by heavy winds, rains and cool temperatures. In Texas, Wilbarger County was designated as a primary disaster area due to losses caused by drought, high winds and excessive temperatures. Drought and high temperatures were also culprits in Virginia, where Fauquier County was designated as a primary disaster area. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA and USDA have disaster assistance programs in place, including the Emergency Conservation Program, Federal Crop Insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information and complete lists of eligible counties are also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov. — compiled by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc., associate editor |
||
|
||