Iowa’s political leaders are urging the USDA to adjust disaster programs and improve assistance to farmers in the wake of recent severe weather.
According to a press release from Governor Reynolds’ office, the governor and Iowa’s entire congressional delegation on Tuesday sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, urging him and the department to “utilize their existing statutory authorities to adjust their disaster programs to provide farmers, ranchers, and producers with the flexibility they need after a natural disaster to recover and rebuild.”
The letter comes after the state has endured three natural disasters in as many months including devastating floods in northwest Iowa, as well as two destructive tornado events that have severely impacted rural areas and numerous farms. The letter highlights the differences in flexibility between programs provided by the USDA, and those offered by the federal Small Business Administration. The letter calls out the USDA’s programs for not providing assistance for farmers in correspondence with the SBA’s programs for small businesses.
The letter is signed by Governor Reynolds, Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and all four Congressional representatives including 4th District Congressman Randy Feenstra.
