 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Directions l American Farm Bureau l Farm Bureau Bank l Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Help l Site Map |
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
| Directions l American Farm Bureau l Farm Bureau Bank l Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Help l Site Map |
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
NEW ORLEANS-- Louisiana farmers and agribusinesses received a $54 million shot in their pocketbooks
Friday when they were included in a Housing and Urban Development Block Grant program for recovery
from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike
Strain and Louisiana Recovery Authority Executive
Director Paul Rainwater made the announcement
during the 87th Annual Louisiana Farm Bureau
Convention at the Marriot Hotel in New Orleans.
Ten million dollars will be used to rebuild New Orleans
Cold Storage, a dark-meat chicken processing plant on
the Mississippi Gulf Outlet. Processing plants in the
northern part of the state only process white-meat
chicken. Strain said if there is no dark-meat processing
plant, the chicken industry in Louisiana could “go under.”
The dark meat will be processed in New Orleans for
shipment overseas.
That leaves about $44.5 million – 25 percent to go to
agribusinesses and the remainder for producers.
“We’ve faced some of the greatest challenges in our
lifetime over the past year,” Strain said. “Louisiana
suffered more than $1 billion in losses from Hurricanes
Gustav and Ike, and not one dime was available from
the new farm bill to help us because it wasn’t codified
into law yet.”
Rainwater said HUD understands the challenges faced by Louisiana’s farmers after suffering through four
hurricanes since 2005.
“Pushing down recovery funds directly to the agricultural community is important,” Rainwater said. “This is
the first time Community Development Block Grant funds will be spent on agriculture programs, and we
look forward to working with the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry in delivering millions of
dollars to farmers to aid their recovery.”
Strain said the grant and loan plan is actually two programs.
The Farm Recovery Program helps farmers and ranchers affected by the 2008 hurricanes with their 2009
production costs.
“Farmers and agribusiness owners must have suffered at least $10,000 in losses from the storms and
the program is capped at $100,000,” Randy Rogers of the LRA said. Participants will make interest
payments only during the first year of the program, then have the balance divided over a five-year period.
Once 80 percent of the loan is paid back, the note is marked ‘paid in full.’”
Rogers said if problems arise and farmers have to adjust their payment schedule, “we’ll work with them.
As long as they are producing and making their payments they’re OK. It’s not going to make anybody
whole from their losses, but it maybe enough to help them until they can get back on their feet.”
The Agribusiness Recovery Program provides low-interest loans for agribusinesses such as aerial
applicators, cotton gins and grain elevators.
“Many farmers put every nickel they had or could borrow into their crops only to lose up to three-fourths of
their investment,” Strain said. “We cannot allow our farmers to be faced with the choice of being forced to
plant a significantly smaller crop or going out of business.”
Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson said Louisiana producers thought they would not
receive any assistance after Gustav and Ike.
“The hurricane last year brought a lot of financial hardships to many of our farmers and ranchers,”
Anderson said. “We hope this program will help them as we approach harvest this year.”
The funds will be administered through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s Louisiana
Agricultural Finance Authority office. The application period for the program is July 13 through Aug. 21.
Application packets may be picked up at LDAF regional officers, Louisiana Farm Bureau parish offices,
LSU AgCenter county agent offices, or on-line at www.ldaf.la.gov.
Completed applications must be postmarked or hand delivered and date stamped to an LDAF district
office no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 21.
Friday when they were included in a Housing and Urban Development Block Grant program for recovery
from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike
Strain and Louisiana Recovery Authority Executive
Director Paul Rainwater made the announcement
during the 87th Annual Louisiana Farm Bureau
Convention at the Marriot Hotel in New Orleans.
Ten million dollars will be used to rebuild New Orleans
Cold Storage, a dark-meat chicken processing plant on
the Mississippi Gulf Outlet. Processing plants in the
northern part of the state only process white-meat
chicken. Strain said if there is no dark-meat processing
plant, the chicken industry in Louisiana could “go under.”
The dark meat will be processed in New Orleans for
shipment overseas.
That leaves about $44.5 million – 25 percent to go to
agribusinesses and the remainder for producers.
“We’ve faced some of the greatest challenges in our
lifetime over the past year,” Strain said. “Louisiana
suffered more than $1 billion in losses from Hurricanes
Gustav and Ike, and not one dime was available from
the new farm bill to help us because it wasn’t codified
into law yet.”
Rainwater said HUD understands the challenges faced by Louisiana’s farmers after suffering through four
hurricanes since 2005.
“Pushing down recovery funds directly to the agricultural community is important,” Rainwater said. “This is
the first time Community Development Block Grant funds will be spent on agriculture programs, and we
look forward to working with the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry in delivering millions of
dollars to farmers to aid their recovery.”
Strain said the grant and loan plan is actually two programs.
The Farm Recovery Program helps farmers and ranchers affected by the 2008 hurricanes with their 2009
production costs.
“Farmers and agribusiness owners must have suffered at least $10,000 in losses from the storms and
the program is capped at $100,000,” Randy Rogers of the LRA said. Participants will make interest
payments only during the first year of the program, then have the balance divided over a five-year period.
Once 80 percent of the loan is paid back, the note is marked ‘paid in full.’”
Rogers said if problems arise and farmers have to adjust their payment schedule, “we’ll work with them.
As long as they are producing and making their payments they’re OK. It’s not going to make anybody
whole from their losses, but it maybe enough to help them until they can get back on their feet.”
The Agribusiness Recovery Program provides low-interest loans for agribusinesses such as aerial
applicators, cotton gins and grain elevators.
“Many farmers put every nickel they had or could borrow into their crops only to lose up to three-fourths of
their investment,” Strain said. “We cannot allow our farmers to be faced with the choice of being forced to
plant a significantly smaller crop or going out of business.”
Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson said Louisiana producers thought they would not
receive any assistance after Gustav and Ike.
“The hurricane last year brought a lot of financial hardships to many of our farmers and ranchers,”
Anderson said. “We hope this program will help them as we approach harvest this year.”
The funds will be administered through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s Louisiana
Agricultural Finance Authority office. The application period for the program is July 13 through Aug. 21.
Application packets may be picked up at LDAF regional officers, Louisiana Farm Bureau parish offices,
LSU AgCenter county agent offices, or on-line at www.ldaf.la.gov.
Completed applications must be postmarked or hand delivered and date stamped to an LDAF district
office no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 21.
First-time HUD Money Earmarked
For Farmers Hit by Hurricanes
For Farmers Hit by Hurricanes
By CHUCK CANNON
FB News Contributing Writer
FB News Contributing Writer
| FB NEWS Photo by Mike Danna |
LRA Executive Director Paul Rainwater explains how farmers will qualify for
disaster assistance money, provided for the first time not through USDA, but
through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
disaster assistance money, provided for the first time not through USDA, but
through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.