McCaul Urges USDA to Accelerate Drought Assistance

The Cypress Times
July 31, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After a lengthy discussion with farmers and ranchers from across the 10th District, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX 10) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack urging him to accelerate relief approved in the 2008 Farm Bill that was delayed until this fall.

"Farmers and ranchers throughout the district are suffering and they need assistance now, not this fall," said Rep. McCaul. "Ranchers are on the brink of selling off their cattle and going out of business because they have nothing to feed their herds and can’t afford the skyrocketing prices of hay due to its scarcity."

In his letter to Secretary Vilsack, Rep. McCaul:

* Emphasized the emergency CD10 agriculture faces if the Federal government does not live up to its obligations

* Requested accelerated emergency funding to help purchase hay at the higher price, purchase protein supplements, or to help pay freight on higher quality feed from other regions

* Requested USDA alter the way it determines land values so that more farmers and ranchers will qualify for assistance

Many farmers and ranchers are not eligible to receive FSA emergency loans because their land is valued at appraised market value, instead of the significantly lower agriculture value. This policy penalizes farmers and ranchers by creating a higher net worth. It forces them to take out second liens on their property to absorb their losses.

In a conference call Friday, Congressman McCaul consulted with Tom Paben, State Director of the Texas Farm Bureau, and representatives from farm bureaus in Harris, Austin, Waller, Washington, Burleson, Lee and Bastrop Counties.

"We’ve all cut our herds back. It’s economics. You can’t afford to feed every one of them any more," said Matt Zibilski, President of the Washington County Farm Bureau.

"In another three weeks if we don’t get any rain or whatever the hay’s gonna be finished. It’s obvious we’re in trouble. Cattle’s gonna have to be sold," said Glen Schmidt, President of the Harris County Farm Bureau.

In April, the USDA declared Austin, Bastrop, Lee, Travis, Waller and Washington counties primary disaster areas due to drought conditions.