Simpson pushes for disaster funds for farmers, ranchers

By Ag Weekly
Thursday, September 27, 2007 5:59 PM CDT

Washington, D.C. In a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson last week asked his colleagues to approve a variety of disaster assistance measures to assist the state of Idaho and those Idahoans impacted by the devastating drought and catastrophic wildfires. Simpson is seeking the assistance through upcoming disaster supplemental legislation expected before Congress this fall.

“As Congress looks to assist Americans impacted by floods, drought, fire, and other natural disasters, it must not forget the incredible toll these conditions had on our state’s citizens,” Simpson said.

“Idaho was ground zero this year for drought and wildfires and experienced some of the worst fire conditions in decades, including our nation’s largest wildfire in southwestern Idaho..”

Among the provisions Simpson is requesting in the disaster supplemental legislation are the following:

• Extension of the Crop Disaster Program to cover losses of any crop planted prior to Oct. 1, 2007. Current law only covers crops planted prior to Feb. 28, 2007.

• Extension of the Livestock Compensation Program and the Livestock Indemnity Program to cover losses that occurred prior to Oct. 1, 2007. Current law only covers losses prior to Feb. 28, 2007. The Livestock Compensation Program assists ranchers in purchasing feed for livestock during extreme drought conditions. The Livestock Indemnity Program provides compensation for livestock losses from a variety of conditions —including wildfire.

• Additional federal funding of measures to rebuild fencing lost or damaged in wildfires and for reseeding and rehabilitation of federal lands impacted by wildfires.

• Reimbursement of costs incurred by the state in fighting fires that began on federal lands. The state now estimates it has spent at least $28 million fighting fires this season n many of which began on federal lands and spread to state and privately owned lands.

Simpson also asked the Committee to consider provisions that would allow ranchers to better utilize grazing lands unaffected by fires and a provision that would ensure cattle were allowed back on some fire-impacted lands as early as next year.

In addition, Simpson alerted the Committee to his desire to explore the possibility of promoting a pilot program on some fire-impacted Idaho lands that would permit the use of grazing as a fuels-reduction-management tool in the rehabilitation toolbox.

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