FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2004
CONTACT: Jacob Dipietre (850) 488-5394
Governor Bush
Applauds Hurricane Agricultural Disaster
Assistance for Florida Producers
--USDA will provide Growers with $500 million in aid--
BARTOW – Governor Jeb Bush today thanked the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) for providing $500 million in hurricane disaster assistance
for producers of citrus, fruits and vegetables and nursery crops. The aid, in
response to President Bush’s Aug. 27 directive to USDA, will be available to
growers in counties that have received a Presidential disaster declaration for
Hurricanes Charley and Frances. USDA will make additional aid for counties
impacted by Ivan available once the damage has been assessed.
“Our federal partners have been extremely responsive to the needs in our
state on a variety of fronts, and I thank the USDA for its rapid response to put
funds in the hands of farmers so they can get back on their feet,” said Governor
Bush. “The relief provided today will go a long way in providing the critical
emergency support, and I appreciate the willingness of USDA and Congress to
ensure adequate funding for hurricane relief.”
The Governor announced that the state will provide $10 million in funds to
help cover the shortfall in box taxes which goes to the Florida Department of
Citrus (FDOC) to promote Florida citrus and remind the market that Florida’s
agriculture industry still offers the best produce and products in the country.
Other available assistance for hurricane victims includes the USDA disaster
food stamp program for more than 15 of the hardest hit Florida counties; more
than $54.9 million in replacement Food Stamp benefits issued to 300,000
families; more than 2.5 million pounds of USDA commodities valued at
approximately $3 million; and $5 million in special funds for baby food and
formula.
“President Bush is committed to providing relief to Floridians. We will use
existing funds and authorities to quickly launch the Florida Hurricane
Agricultural Disaster Assistance in an effort to help growers in their cleanup
efforts and to compensate them for lost crops and trees.” Veneman said during
the announcement here with Florida Governor Bush and Rep. Adam Putnam.
“We are now in the process of determining agricultural damages from Hurricane
Ivan in Florida and other states, as well as damages to agricultural production
beyond citrus, fruits and vegetables and nursery operations from Hurricanes
Frances and Charley. We will continue to provide the same level of response to
other hurricane-impacted agricultural sectors as our damage assessments are
completed.”
To help address housing and infrastructure needs, Veneman announced that Tom
Dorr, senior advisor for Rural Development issues, will be meeting with local,
county and state government officials in Florida to assess needs and address
such issues as housing for farm workers. Housing assistance has been provided
for families displaced from USDA-sponsored housing.
Governor Bush joined USDA Secretary Anne Veneman, Florida Agriculture
Commissioner Charlie Bronson, U.S. Congressman Adam Putnam, Senator JD
Alexander, Representative Marty Bowen and President of Florida Farm Bureau of
Polk County Paul Sullivan at the announcement.
For more information on hurricane disaster assistance for growers, please see
the attached document or visit
http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
###
Sign-up for
citrus, fruits and vegetables and plasticulture vegetables under Florida
Hurricane Disaster Assistance will begin early October with payments beginning
shortly after sign-up. A sign-up date for nursery producers will be announced
in the very near future.
Citrus
producers will be reimbursed on a per acre basis for each eligible grove.
Payments will be based on the severity of destruction as determined by the path
of the storms and damage estimates developed by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in
cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture. The formula will take
into account various levels of losses generally correlating to the distance from
the eye of the hurricanes, the average production loss, tree loss, and
rehabilitation and cleanup costs. Further explanation is given in the following
table.
|
Citrus Crop Losses for
Hurricanes Charley and Frances |
|
|
Severity of destruction |
Payment rate per acre for insured producers
($) |
|
Tier 1 |
>75% crop loss and associated tree damage |
1,500 |
|
Tier 2 |
50-75% crop loss and associated tree damage |
1,000 |
|
Tier 3 |
35-50% crop loss and associated tree damage |
600 |
|
Tier 4 |
<35% crop loss and associated tree damage |
100 |
Payments for eligible fruits and
vegetable producers will be based on a per acre basis, and payments for
plasticulture vegetable producers will be based on the type of planting
application or method installed or completed at the time the hurricanes hit.
Plasticulture refers to production practices where the soil has been bedded,
fumigated, fertilized, drip irrigation tape installed and plastic-mulch laid.
The production cost for plasticulture is much higher than for conventional
row-cropped vegetables. Payments for plasticulture losses will be made in three
categories based on the relative amount of investment. The following table
provides payment details.
|
Vegetable Crop Losses for
Hurricanes Charley and Frances
(For Plasticulture &
Bare-ground Acreage)
|
|
Plasticulture Planted Acres (with
Plants) $2,500 per acre |
|
Plasticulture Acres With No Planted Acres (no
Plants) $2,000 per acre |
|
Plasticulture Double-Cropped Plastic
Acres $1,000 per acre |
|
|
|
Conventional Row-Cropped Vegetable Acres
Suffering Substantial
Losses
$250 per acre |
Nursery payments will be based on a percentage of inventory loss (exact
percentage is yet to be determined) plus a flat rate payment of $250 per acre to
address general clean up costs from the hurricanes.
Payments for this assistance are authorized under Section 32 of the Agricultural
Act of August 24, 1935, which allows the Secretary to restore producers’
purchasing power. Aid to producers under this program is estimated at more than
$500 million. The use of these funds will not impair the Department’s ability
to meet its responsibilities under the child nutrition programs and other food
assistance programs. These important nutrition programs are fully financed and
all of the entitlements will be provided. Also, funding will continue to be
available to purchase surplus agricultural commodities that will be donated to
food assistance programs.
Each
producer payment is limited to $80,000. Payment rates will be 5 percent less
for producers who did not obtain Federal Crop Insurance, which is available from
the Risk Management Agency, or on coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster
Assistance Program (NAP), which is available from the FSA. Similar to a number
of other USDA program, payments will not be available for producers whose
adjusted gross income is $2.5 million or higher, unless 75 percent is derived
from farming and forestry. In addition, producers will be required to agree to
purchase crop insurance for next year’s crop. Other conditions will apply. A
Federal Register notice will be
published providing more program details.
The closing date
for sign-up will be announced at a later date, but producers will be given ample
opportunity to complete the process. Producers in any of the eligible counties
are encouraged to visit their local FSA county office to begin the sign-up
process.
For
more information about other disaster assistance, producers should contact or
visit local county FSA offices or USDA Service Centers.
Hurricane Ivan News
2012 State of Florida