Representative Ike Skelton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Lara Battles or
Wednesday, October 11, 2006	Whitney Frost (202)225-2876

Skelton Welcomes USDA Drought Assistance for Missouri Farmers

Congress Must Act on Comprehensive Disaster Relief Package, Says Skelton

Washington, DC – Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) thanked the U.S. Department of Agriculture for recognizing the need for drought emergency assistance for Missouri farmers.

“Severe heat and drought has taken a toll on Missouri farmers, so I am grateful for the Agriculture Secretary’s declaration. Farmers in 85 Missouri counties, including every county in the Fourth Congressional District, will be able to apply for USDA assistance,” said Skelton.

Fourth Congressional District counties designated as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought are:

Barton, Bates, Benton, Camden, Cass, Cedar, Cole, Dade, Dallas, Henry, Hickory, Jackson, Johnson, Laclede, Lafayette, Moniteau, Morgan, Pettis, Polk, Pulaski, Ray, St. Clair, Vernon, and Webster.

Saline County, which is also part of the Fourth Congressional District, is eligible as a county contiguous to those in the primary natural disaster area.

“While this assistance for Missouri farmers is welcome, Congress must do more to address the needs of farmers and rural communities throughout the country. Because drought, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and other weather-related events have caused serious damage to crops and livestock in 2005 and 2006, many of my colleagues and I want the U.S. House of Representatives to consider a comprehensive agriculture disaster relief proposal,” said Skelton.

“Before Congress adjourned in September, 198 House members signed a petition to bring this legislation to the House floor for debate. More than 30 farm and allied organizations have written to Congress in support of this effort. When Congress returns in November, I hope that this emergency disaster relief for farmers will be on the agenda,” said Skelton.

Counties listed in USDA’s October 10, 2006, declaration were designated as natural disaster areas, making all qualified farm operators in those counties eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

For more information about USDA disaster assistance, contact your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office or visit FSA’s web site at www.fsa.usda.gov.

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Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) serves as Ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. For further information, please contact Lara Battles or Whitney Frost at (202)225-2876, or check Congressman Skelton's web site at http://www.house.gov/skelton.