Leahy, Jeffords and
Sanders Applaud USDA Decision To Include Six Vermont
Counties for Drought Relief
WASHINGTON
D.C. -- The Vermont Congressional Delegation today
applauded the United States Department of Agriculture for its
decision to designate six additional Vermont counties as
“primary natural disaster counties.”
The six counties
now qualify for payments under the Livestock Compensation
Program (LCP). LCP compensates livestock producers,
including dairymen, for losses suffered due to drought in 2001
and 2002.
This program has
already paid out nearly $3.5 million to farmers in the eight
Vermont counties that were designated as primary disaster
areas last year. Farmers in the remaining six counties
-- Windham, Windsor, Essex, Lamoille, Franklin and Grand Isle
-- will collectively receive upwards of $3 million under the
program.
Recognizing the
importance of this program to farmers, the Vermont delegation
sent a letter on October 3, 2002 to Agriculture Secretary Ann
Veneman, asking that farmers in the six counties be included
in the program. Continued efforts by the delegation,
Gov. Howard Dean, Gov.-elect Jim Douglas and the Vermont Farm
Service Agency helped illustrate the need for drought
assistance for all 14 Vermont
counties.
“Dairy and livestock
farmers in these six counties deserve this disaster
assistance,” said Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who is a
senior member of the Agriculture Committee and chairs the
Judiciary Committee. “FSA Director Steve Kerr played the
key role in making sure that our farmers got the aid they
need. This is the result of a team effort and
demonstrates the effectiveness of working
together.”
“I'm pleased that the
program will now cover all of our state's livestock and dairy
producers. With milk prices as low as they are, these
payments couldn't come at a better time,” Sen. James M.
Jeffords, I-Vt., said. “I commend those who worked to
make this happen, specifically FSA Director Steve Kerr and his
staff. More than $25 million will be paid out to Vermont
farmers this year through federal programs they have
administered.”
Rep. Bernard Sanders,
I-Vt., said, “It is certainly good news that the delegation
has pushed USDA to do the right thing. Our experience
with this program reminds us that we are going to have to be
very diligent to make sure that Vermont family farmers get the
help they need and deserve from this
Administration."
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