FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2012

Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191
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Tony Jarboe, 202-314-3104
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GIG HARBOR, Wash. (July 17, 2012) – The National Farmers Union (NFU) Board of Directors passed a resolution today supporting current legislation that will extend permanent disaster programs for crops and livestock producers for one year in response to recent exceptional droughts plaguing U.S. agriculture. The extension will provide certainty for U.S. farmers and ranchers while Congress works to pass the next farm bill, which the U.S. House of Representatives must do before current legislation expires on Sept. 30, 2012.

“The U.S. House must act now to pass the farm bill before current legislation expires in about two months,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “It is critical that Congress supports the legislation sponsored by Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Tim Johnson, D-S.D. and Jon Tester, D-Mont., that would extend the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Livestock Forage Program (LFP), and Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) for one year. More than 1,000 counties in 26 states have declared disasters due to the drought and wildfire, and farmers currently do not have adequate assistance for their 2011 and 2012 weather-related crop losses.”

The SURE Program was the permanent disaster legislation authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.

“NFU is concerned by extreme weather conditions that are causing severe hardship for farmers and ranchers across the country, with no end in sight,” said Johnson. “We are experiencing unprecedented weather in 2012, which has resulted in 3,215 daily high temperature records in the month of June 2012 alone. Congress must act to protect U.S. family farmers and ranchers from such extreme weather, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture must continue working to streamline disaster programs so they are easily accessible to those who need them most.”

National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership

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