Contact: Shana Stribling 202.224.0309 Rich Chrismer 202.224.4812
Wednesday, October 15, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Kit Bond and Jim Talent today announced that Missouri counties damaged by tornados that swept the state in May have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for an additional $1.4 million in federal funds. The Senators also told Missouri farmers and ranchers how to access these funds.

"We have been working hard to provide relief to the victims of the May tornados, from the morning after when my staff was on the ground in the debris fields, throughout ensuring that the bureaucracy made good on promises,"said Bond. "With this announcement by the Secretary of Ag. we are finally satisfying one of the last promises made, to help get our farmers and ranchers back to the business of feeding and clothing our population."

"Senator Bond and I have worked closely together every step of the way to ensure that federal agencies provide all available help to Missourians affected by the tornados," said Sen. Talent, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. "This additional funding from the Agriculture Department will help Missouri farmers and ranchers rebuild and recover from the disaster. I encourage those needing assistance to contact their local U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency office."

Tornados swept the state in early May, resulting in a tragic loss of life and extensive property damage. Damage to Missouri farms, dairies and ranches have been particularly devastating. There were numerous accounts of grain storage bin losses, barns strewn across fields, decimation of fields and forests.

In the weeks following the tornados both Bond and Talent worked to ensure that federal agencies quickly provided all available help to Missourians affected by the storms. The Senators sought and won very quick Presidential approval for emergency disaster declarations for a number of affected Missouri citizens, towns, counties and cities, and traveled with the President to tour disaster sites in Missouri.

This past Friday Bond and Talent were told by USDA officials that Missouri counties are eligible for an additional $1.4 million in Emergency Conservation Funds (ECP) as a result of these storms (see Attachment for counties/totals).

The ECP, administered by the Agriculture Department's Farm Service Agency, helps agriculture producers with the cost of rehabilitating eligible farmlands damaged by natural disaster. ECP funds would pay for debris removal, fence restoration, grading and shaping of farmland, restoring structures and water conservation measures.

Today Senators Bond and Talent encouraged Missouri farmers and ranchers to apply for this aid at their local Farm Service Agency offices. To find the nearest FSA office look on the web at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/disaster/wherapply.htm or contact Missouri's state office at 573.876.0925.

Funds Allocated by County Barton 96,349

Camden 12,800

Cedar 321,399

Christian 133,035

Cole 34,125

Dade 703

Dallas 53,220

Franklin 20,000

Greene 39,918

Jasper 51,200

Jefferson 64,000

Knox 12,500

Lawrence 212,850

Lewis 8,625

Maries 26,619

Osage 85,125

Phelps 7,506

Polk 192,799

Pulaski 12,500

Vernon 15,977

Washington 20,000

Total - 1,421,250