Congressman Patrick McHenry today sent a letter to President George W. Bush, urging him to quickly approve the disaster assistance petition submitted by Governor Mike Easley on April 19, 2007. The federal declaration of disaster assistance will help local farmers recover their losses due to the Easter weekend freeze.
“I respectfully ask that [you] act on this information as quickly and decisively as possible and declare these counties across North Carolina as a natural disaster area,” said Congressman McHenry in the letter. “In making this declaration, you are providing the necessary assistance to the growers [in] Western North Carolina so they can recoup these devastating losses.”
According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s (NCDA) preliminary reports, Tenth District counties suffered $19,772,184 in agricultural losses and incurred weather-related damage across 77,458 acres. Damage estimates are expected to increase as further information – such as ornamental crop losses – becomes more readily available.
The NCDA’s preliminary statewide damage assessment notes that nursery crops suffered the highest losses at $57.9 million. Fruits and vegetables, which include apples, peaches, and various berries, suffered estimated losses of $26.5 million. Other crops affected by the freeze included corn, wheat, barley, and Irish potatoes.
According to United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Governor’s office, a county must have at least one crop suffer a 35 percent or greater reduction in normal yield to be included in a disaster declaration request. Governor Easley’s petition to the President included 8 of the ten counties in the Tenth District; Caldwell and Catawba Counties were not included as part of the Governor’s petition.
If President Bush approves the disaster assistance declaration, Caldwell and Catawba Counties will qualify for the FSA low interest emergency loan program because of their contiguous status. Contiguous counties are otherwise known as counties that suffered comparable damage and lie adjacent to federally designated disaster assistance zones.
Local farmers who need help locating their nearest extension agent, or FSA office, can contact Congressman McHenry's office toll free at 1-800-477-2576, or consult the following websites:
FSA: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=nc&agency=fsa
Extension Agents: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=countycenters
On April 13, 2007, the Congressman issued a letter to Governor Mike Easley, requesting he petition President George W. Bush and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns for natural disaster assistance.
The Congressman’s letter to President Bush is below:
May 2, 2007
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Mr. President:
On April 19, 2007, Governor Mike Easley of North Carolina made an official request to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns to declare 47 counties across the state, including 8 of the 10 counties I represent, as a natural disaster area due to the record-breaking cold weather throughout the Easter holiday weekend. A disaster declaration would provide the growers in these counties in my Congressional district, as well as across the State of North Carolina, with the necessary approval to become eligible to obtain federal Emergency Credit Loans.
In the region that I represent in Western North Carolina, the focus of agriculture lies within specialty crops. Specialty crops represent close to 45% of the total value of crop production in the United States and provide over $1 billion in farm income from fruits, vegetables, nursery and greenhouse, and Christmas trees for the State of North Carolina. During the record-breaking cold weather, initial figures indicate that nursery crops across the state suffered the most with an estimated $57.9 million in losses. Furthermore, fruit and vegetable crops lost an estimated $26.5 million. Those same preliminary figures reported that, in the counties I represent, 77,458 acres of land suffered significant damage that resulted in a loss of $19,772,184 for the local agricultural economy. Unfortunately, damage to farmland across the state continues to be reported as a result of these unseasonably freezing temperatures.
In the immediate aftermath of this damage, I joined a number of my North Carolina Congressional colleagues in urging Governor Easley to formally request the federal declaration of these counties as a natural disaster. I respectfully ask that, after reviewing the data as it becomes available, you act on this information as quickly and decisively as possible and declare these counties across North Carolina as a natural disaster area. In making this declaration, you are putting in place the first steps in providing the assistance to the growers in our state, and in particular, Western North Carolina, so they can recoup these devastating losses.
I look forward to you taking action on this urgent matter for the State of North Carolina. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Patrick McHenry
Member of Congress
