WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today asked U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to grant a request by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad for 27 additional counties be designated as disaster areas. The counties sustained substantial damage from several weather events over the summer, including a major hail and wind storm in July.
"Farmers across the state have faced about every kind of challenge that summer weather can bring. People along the Missouri River haven't been able to assess the damage to their fields because they are still under water. And, farmers stretching from Fremont County to Linn County have dealt with hail, wind, and drought damage," Grassley said. "I've seen this damage firsthand as I've traveled Iowa during the month of August. I hope Secretary Vilsack acts on Iowa's request as soon as possible."
If granted, farmers in the counties of Adams, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Fremont, Henry, Jefferson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Marshall, Mills, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, Page, Polk, Tama, Taylor, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Wayne and Woodbury, and in the counties adjacent to each of those counties, would be eligible for FSA emergency loans, the Livestock Indemnity Program, and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program.
Here is a copy of Grassley's letter to Vilsack. Branstad's letter can be found by clicking here.
September 13, 2011
The Honorable Thomas Vilsack
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
Dear Secretary Vilsack:
I respectfully ask that you grant the request made by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad for a disaster designation for 27 counties in the State of Iowa as a result of severe weather including hail, drought conditions, and strong winds that were supposedly measured in some areas at over 100 miles per hour. Not only did the strong winds damage crops, but it also caused significant damage to buildings and equipment. The 27 Iowa counties which have been severely impacted by these weather events are Adams, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Fremont, Henry, Jefferson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Marshall, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Polk, Tama, Taylor, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Wayne, and Woodbury.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator
