Moran Weighs in on Disaster Assistance for Kansas Farmers and Ranchers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jerry Moran today asked House leaders to support agriculture disaster assistance as part of supplemental appropriations legislation currently working its way through the legislative process. Moran pledged to work with leaders to deliver fiscally responsible, yet effective disaster assistance.

"Farmers and ranchers suffered significant losses in 2005 as a result of adverse growing conditions," Moran said. "Unless the immediate emergency needs of the producers in Kansas and across the country are met, many producers will be out of business."

All but 4 of the 105 counties in Kansas have been declared primary or contiguous disaster areas. A variety of natural disasters, including drought in Kansas and the hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, have caused devastating losses that are either not covered by crop insurance or are not adequately addressed by available policies. In addition, multiple year droughts result in reduced coverage to producers who hold even the best available crop insurance policies.

These crop losses have occurred at a time of significant increases in cost of production. The lack of adequate coverage coupled with the tremendous increase in fuel, fertilizer and natural gas leaves many farmers and ranchers on the verge of bankruptcy.

Moran is a senior member of the House Committee on Agriculture and chairs the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, which has responsibility for crop insurance issues.

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