By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture advanced an $8.5 billion bill expanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) to provide disaster payments for farmers and ranchers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2020 and 2021.
HR 267,which is set to be folded into a supplemental appropriations bill, provides disaster aid covering extreme weather events such as drought, wildfires, floods, hurricanes and freezing weather that swept across Texas in February.
“Severe and unforeseen weather events wreaked havoc on crops and livestock throughout 2020 and continue now during the 2021 growing season,” Chairman David Scott said. “It is my hope and expectation that as a committee we continue to focus on disaster relief and engage every opportunity available to strengthen the farm safety net and find a way to get immediate disaster aid out to our farmers, ranchers, and foresters more quickly without delays.”
Scott said he was glad the House Ag Committee was able to come together in a bipartisan way to pass the bill, which passed unanimously. He thanked various members of Congress including Texas Reps. Michael Cloud, Henry Cuellar and Ronny Jackson for their work on HR 267.
The bill includes language from Jackson and Cuellar’s RESTORE Act, which was introduced in March.
“The ag community has been through a lot in the last year due to market turmoil caused by COVID-19 and disastrous weather events,” Jackson said. “I am committed to being a part of the solution, so we can make sure our farmers and ranchers emerge from these setbacks stronger than ever before.”
Under the legislation, it would be easier for farmers and ranchers to qualify for drought losses. Previously, drought had to be classified as U.S. Drought Monitor category “extreme” (D3) or “exceptional” (D4) for a USDA disaster declaration so farmers in that area could qualify for assistance through WHIP+. Now, a county under “severe” (D2) drought for eight consecutive weeks may qualify.
Payments will be limited to $250,000 per person except for “specialty crops or high value crops” as determined by USDA.
Also included are losses caused by power outages like those that occurred in Texas during Winter Storm Uri. Dairy farmers were forced to dump thousands of gallons of milk when rolling blackouts lasting for days were instituted to keep the state’s power grid from failing.
Direct payments to sugar and dairy cooperatives for losses that affect the entire co-op will be allowed, as well.
Numerous farm and ranch organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), support the legislation and are hopeful it will move through Congress quickly.
“Texas Farm Bureau is pleased Congressmen Ronny Jackson and Henry Cuellar’s RESTORE Act was included in the U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s passage of their larger disaster relief legislation during the committee mark-up. Whether it was the winter storm, hurricanes, flooding or ongoing drought conditions, Texas agricultural producers are in desperate need of assistance to keep them operating,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “Texas Farm Bureau is proud to support this bill and looks forward to working with leaders in Congress to get it across the finish line to provide relief for hardworking farm and ranch families.”