Bipartisan legislation sponsored on Sept. 27 by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) would provide an additional $14 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist ag producers who suffered losses caused by natural disasters in 2023.
“Natural disasters like drought and flooding have caused devastating losses for Central Valley producers over the last two years,” Rep. Valadao said. “These extreme weather events negatively affect the security of our nation’s food supply, prices for consumers, and jobs throughout our community.
“My legislation provides USDA with the funding necessary to assist farmers in California and across the country who have been impacted by natural disasters,” added the congressman.
The Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, H.R. 9889, also would include a $1.5 billion carveout in the appropriations for livestock losses and provide expanded assistance to livestock producers, including relocation of livestock, feed crop losses, and shelter-in-place procedures, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Valadao’s staff.
If enacted, H.R. 9889 also would cover quality loss from smoke-tainted wine grapes due to wildfire, and include additional provisions to cover the definition of drought, direct payments to producers, payment limitations, crop insurance requirements, etc., and include a new provision to ensure payments are administered simultaneously for all producers, regardless of type of qualified loss, the summary says.
Rep. Valadao introduced the bill alongside 11 original cosponsors, including lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).
“Our farmers and ranchers have been getting hammered with severe weather, significant flooding, smoke damage, and steep prices, which have all led to serious setbacks this season,” said Rep. Panetta, who said the bill “would allow the federal government to provide reasonable assistance as necessary for those in our agricultural industry to recover and continue moving forward.”
The legislation is supported by the American Farm Bureau, the California Farm Bureau, the Western Growers Association, the National Milk Producers Federation, the Milk Producers Council, California Dairies Inc., Napa Valley Vintners, the California Tomato Growers Association, the Almond Alliance, and the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.
“Producers in the Central Valley have had a difficult and uncertain couple of years,” said Rep. Valadao, “and I’ll continue working to ensure they have the resources and support they need to grow the food that feeds the world.”