15 September 2004

Governor, Ag Secretary urge Bush to support disaster aid for Kansas

Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky today sent a letter to President George W. Bush asking that he support disaster aid for Kansas farmers as he pursues emergency aid for Florida agricultural producers impacted by recent hurricanes.

“Kansas farmers know the toll catastrophic weather events can have on crop production,” Sebelius said. “They’ve had to deal with hail, high winds, tornadoes and flooding on top of a persistent drought that continues to plague northwest Kansas.”

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill that will make $2.9 billion in emergency assistance available to farmers and ranchers who sustained losses in 2003 and 2004 as a result of natural disasters. President Bush had asked the Senate to approve $3.1 billion in funding for farmers and ranchers in Florida to help offset losses resulting from recent hurricanes.

“I commend the Senate for their strong, bipartisan support of this amendment,” Sebelius said. “It’s clear they want to ensure equal treatment for all farmers and ranchers whose livelihoods have been adversely impacted by drought and other weather events.”

The emergency aid amendment, once it passes a House-Senate conference committee and is approved by the president, will compensate producers for drought and other weather-related losses sustained in 2003 and 2004. Producers in counties declared primary disaster areas, or in counties contiguous to them, who can document losses of 35 percent or more, will be eligible for aid.

“Crop production losses are devastating, regardless of their cause, and Kansas producers deserve equal access to aid,” Polansky said.

Last year, all Kansas counties were either declared primary agricultural disaster areas or they were contiguous to a declared county. So far this year, 10 Kansas counties have been declared agricultural disaster areas by USDA because of damage done by hail, high winds, tornadoes and flooding. Also this year, USDA declared 34 counties disaster areas due to drought. Three counties made both lists.

Economists estimate last year’s crop production losses at up to $275 million. This year’s losses are estimated at $150 million.